Devils can’t make it three in a row

COLUMBUS, Ohio — There was no eight-goal outburst from the Devils this time, which meant a mini two-game winning streak came to an abrupt end.

Joonas Korpisalo had 29 saves, three Columbus players recorded a goal and an assist and the Blue Jackets beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Tuesday night. The Devils had stormed to an 8-5 win over the Blackhawks on Monday night at Prudential Center.

Top-liners Artemi Panarin, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cam Atkinson carried the offensive load, and Boone Jenner also scored as Columbus won its fourth straight. The Blue Jackets have won six of their last eight games and 11 of the last 14 while sparring with Washington and Pittsburgh atop the Metropolitan Division.

Korpisalo has started three of the last four games ahead of star Sergei Bobrovsky and won each time. The 24-year-old Finn could soon find himself the team’s No.1 goalie as Bobrovsky has refused to sign a contract extension with Columbus and may be traded before the deadline next month.

Blake Coleman scored and Keith Kinkaid had 30 saves for the Devils, as they struggle to stay out of the Metro basement.

“It’s beyond frustrating,” Devils veteran winger Brian Boyle said. “You try to get some traction going. We work extremely hard. It’s been months of not (getting) the results we wanted.”

Coach John Hynes said some players lacked effort on the second night of a back-to-back after Monday night’s wild win.

“It was just some individuals who were not ready to go and compete at the level we need them to compete at,” Hynes said. “I wouldn’t necessarily say it was the whole team.”

Atkinson tipped in a pass from Dubois 45 seconds in for his team-leading 27th goal to give Columbus the early lead. Less than two minutes later, Josh Anderson, off a faceoff from the right circle, fed Jenner, who beat Kinkaid from the slot.

Late in the first, David Savard grabbed a face off and slid a beautiful pass from the left corner to the doorstep, setting up Panarin for an easy tip-in and a 3-0 Columbus lead.

Early in the second, Dubois snapped in a shot from the left circle for the Blue Jackets’ fourth power-play goal in four games.

Coleman redirected a shot by Mirco Mueller late in the second period to make it 4-1.