Berard Scores in OT to Defeat New Jersey

By Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired

Bryan Berard scored his sixth goal of the season with just 13.6 seconds remaining in overtime to lead the Jackets past the New Jersey Devils 3-2 and extend the Devils losing streak to four games while increasing the Jackets overtime record this year to 4-0 under head coach Gerard Gallant.

Marc Denis making his first start in eight games earned his first win since a November 9th win against St. Louis. He finished with 36 saves as his record improved to 4-11. "Three weeks without playing, and a month since I had a victory, it (the win) feels good" Denis said.

Brian Gionta and Paul Martin scored for the Devils. Martin scored his first goal of the year when he pinched in from his defensive position, went around Joe Motzko and received the tape to tape pass from Jamie Langenbrunner to give New Jersey first blood. With 3:06 remaining in the second period, Gionta slid a backhander past Denis, scoring his 18th goal of the season and giving the Devils a 2-1 lead.

At 4:35 in the third period, Nikolai Zherdev would even the score with his second goal of the game and his fourth in three games. David Vyborny worked hard to keep New Jersey defender Richard Matvichuk from getting the puck out of the zone. Zherdev swooped in taking the puck, faking a pass and was left 1-on-1 with Brodeur. He caught Brodeur leaning to his left and he went right.

“The first goal was a two on one situation with Sergei (Fedorov). I faked the pass (to Fedorov) to get him (Brodeur) leaning,” Zherdev said through in interpreter.

In OT, Denis had to hold off three quality Devils shots and in the end it was Sergei Fedorov taking the out pass from defenseman Ron Hainsey, skating down the left side, spotting Berard who slammed the puck past Brodeur for the win. The bench cleared as the Jackets players rushed the ice congratulating Berard.

“I saw someone skating 100 hundred miles an hour over my shoulder and it's a no brainer to give it to him, Fedorov said. “Bryan cut the corner and made a great play by putting the puck in the net.”

“Sergei is one of those great offensive players, and he gave me a great pass,” commented Berard. “I saw a deep pivot and broke toward the middle to get a shot on the net. I tried to go five hole and I was lucky enough it found the back of the net."

Martin Brodeur, the leading candidate to start for Team Canada in the Olympics was stellar during regulation making 36 saves in the loss. “This is a team we defiantly should have beat and we didn’t,” he said. “Our power play (0 for 7 tonight) has been tough for us in the last few games.”

Columbus continues it’s homestand on Tuesday against Philadelphia.