COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jack Hughes scored two goals and set up two by Timo Meier as the New Jersey Devils had their biggest offensive output in more than four years with an 8-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.
Tomas Tatar, Erik Haula, Damon Severson and Ryan Graves also scored as the Devils earned their 50th win of the season, one off tying the franchise record set in 2008-09. Vitek Vanecek made 16 saves in his 32nd win and the Devils' third in three meetings with Columbus this season.
The Devils' franchise record is nine goals in a game.
Finnish rookie Joona Luoto scored his first NHL goal for injury-riddled Columbus, which is in contention for the league's worst record (24-26-8) this season with Chicago and Anaheim. Blue Jackets starting goaltender Michael Hutchinson gave up five goals on 24 shots before being lifted in the third period.
Blue Jackets leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau left the game in the first period because of illness, the team said.
The Devils won the game with their special teams, killing off all five Columbus power plays while scoring twice with the man-advantage (Hughes, Meier) and once short-handed (Severson).
Hughes gave New Jersey the lead for good, scoring an unassisted goal nine seconds after New Jersey killed off a Michael McLeod penalty. It was his 41st of the season and his 200th career point.
Tatar, Hughes and Meier pushed the lead to 4-1 after two periods and New Jersey piled on four more in the third period.
NOTEBOOK: The Boqvist brothers, Jesper of the Devils and Adam of the Blue Jackets, were in the starting lineups for the opening faceoff. ... Devils D Jonas Siegenthaler didn't play for two second time this season. ... Graves played in his 300th NHL game.
NO GOALS:
Both teams had a goal waved off in the first period. Tartar scored with 12:10 left in the period on a shot from the inside of the left circle. Columbus coach Brad Larden challenged, saying the play was offside, and Tartar was. ... Josh Dunne was stopped on a breakaway by Vanecek with 5:03 left in the period. His momemtum carried him into the goaltender and the puck crossed the goal line after the net came odd its moorings.
UP NEXT:
Blue Jackets: Return home to face the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Devils: At Boston on Saturday night.
