Monahan and Coyle lead Blue Jackets past Devils 5-3 to stop 4-game skid

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Sean Monahan scored twice and the Columbus Blue Jackets overcame an early two-goal deficit to beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Monday night, snapping a four-game skid.

Charlie Coyle scored the go-ahead goal 6:40 into the third period and added two assists for the Blue Jackets, who were 0-1-3 in their previous four games. Miles Wood had a goal and an assist, and Denton Mateychuk also scored.

Elvis Merzlikins made 30 saves, and defenseman Zach Werenski had two assists.

Nico Hischier, Ondrej Palat and Timo Meier scored for the Devils, who opened a 2-0 lead 3:03 into the game. It was Meier's 10th goal of the season and fifth in the last six games.

Jesper Bratt had two assists for the second straight game, and Hischier had one to give him 12 points in the past six games. Jake Allen stopped 19 shots.

New Jersey (16-9-1) was handed its second consecutive loss in regulation at home after starting 9-0-1 at the Prudential Center this season. The Devils missed an opportunity to move ahead of Carolina for first place in the Metropolitan Division.

Columbus (12-9-5) improved to 5-5-2 in the past 12 games and climbed out of last place in the Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of the New York Rangers.

Monahan scored on a power-play wrist shot at 7:14 of the third, assisted by Isac Lundestrom, to put Columbus up 4-2.

The Blue Jackets won 62.3% of the faceoffs in the game.

Blue Jackets: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.

Devils: Host the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins defends the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J., Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New Jersey Devils' Jonas Siegenthaler, left, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Newark, N.J., Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New Jersey Devils' Paul Cotter, left, fights with Columbus Blue Jackets' Brendan Smith during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Newark, N.J., Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Miles Wood celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J., Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Sean Monahan, center, celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J., Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Allisha Gray scored 22 points, Jordin Canada had 13 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter, and the Atlanta Dream advanced to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2018, beating the Washington Mystics 93-75 in Game 2 of their first-round series on Wednesday night.

Atlanta, which had lost in the first round in each of the last three seasons, will host Game 1 of the semifinals on Sunday against New York, which swept Minnesota to become the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history.

Canada made 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter, and she added a jumper from the free-throw line on Atlanta's next trip for an 89-70 lead with 2:58 left.

Canada also had 11 assists and seven rebounds. Rhyne Howard finished with 15 points before fouling out with 6:03 left in the fourth quarter. Angel Reese also had 15 points and Naz Hillmon added 10.

Sonia Citron scored 25 points for Washington. Kiki Iriafen had 15 points and 16 rebounds and became the first player in franchise history to have a first-half double-double in a playoff game.

Atlanta led 41-28 with 1:26 left in the first half before Washington closed on a 7-0 run, capped by Citron's shot in the lane just before the buzzer. The Mystics were hurt by 11 first-half turnovers.

Washington went on a 14-2 run starting in the third quarter to get within 65-62. But Atlanta scored the next 13 points, capped by a 3-pointer by Canada, to rebuild a double-digit lead at 78-62.

The Mystics were making their first playoff appearance since winning the 2019 WNBA championship.

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Atlanta Dream guard Matilde Villa, center, is fouled against by Washington Mystics guard Alicia Florez (2) during the first half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Atlanta Dream forward DeWanna Bonner (24) celebrates with forward Angel Reese, right, after making a three-point basket against the Washington Mystics during the first half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts after being fouled against during the first half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Washington Mystics, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada (3) celebrates after making a three-point basket against the Washington Mystics during the second half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) celebrates with teammates after being fouled against during the first half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Washington Mystics, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)