NEWARK, N.J. – This was certainly a defensive-minded, close-to-the-vest game reminiscent of those played by the Devils of years past.
The Blue Jackets started sluggishly out of the gate, turned pucks over and did not make it easy on themselves by any stretch – and it fed right into New Jersey’s counterpunching, attacking style.
They were certainly not sharp, but what coach John Tortorella told his team between periods is that they needed to find a way, dig deep and grind out two points tonight at Prudential Center, and do so against a team full of confidence on a four-game winning streak.