COLUMBUS, Ohio — There was so much to process in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 5-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on Monday, from the way volatile goaltender Elvis Merzlikins gathered himself on multiple occasions, to the way the Blue Jackets’ handled themselves physically without their toughest players in the lineup, to the way the Jackets held on — and played add-on — with a third-period lead.

But to step back from the passion and the debris of that game was to recognize something that’s been evident all season and was emphasized on Monday: veteran forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood have been very important players for the Blue Jackets this season.

Coyle had a goal and two assists, led all forwards with 20:27 of ice time and won 11 of 17 faceoffs, while Wood had a goal and an assist, a plus-3 rating, a club-high four hits and played 19:30, the third-highest total of his 533-game career.

In a game that featured four fights, Wood and Coyle kept their mitts on. In a game where tempers flared, they played hard and sound, taking no penalties. And for a team that has struggled to close out games, they were drivers of possession and pace down the stretch.

“It’s a step in the right direction for our team,” Coyle said. “You try to build it, and it’s always a work in progress. But something like this — a game like that — it can certainly do that.

“Sometimes there are games on the schedule where you can look back and say, ‘Remember that one?’ It could have gone the other way. We were down a couple and we turned things around. You have to use that to your advantage.”

There were so many standout performances on Monday. It was one of those wins that could have a galvanizing effect on the Blue Jackets as this season moves along, a date on the schedule where their season finally found traction.

Woody’s feeling right at home! 😏

CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/3gcSi6iffC

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) December 2, 2025

When you consider how some of the Blue Jackets’ integral forwards have struggled at the start of the season — Boone Jenner before he was injured, Monahan before he awakened three games ago and Kent Johnson — the production of Coyle (four goals, 14 assists and 18 points) and Wood (seven goals in 20 games) has been clutch.

GM Don Waddell went into last summer hoping to make substantial upgrades at the top of the Blue Jackets’ lineup, but the trade and free agent markets weren’t what he and others anticipated. Many Blue Jackets’ fans seemed disappointed that only the third and fourth lines were improved.

Coyle and Wood were acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche for young forward Gavin Brindley, a third-round pick this past summer and a second-round pick in next summer’s draft.

It’ll take years to fully digest the trade. Coyle, 33, is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and keeping him in the fold will be key. Wood, 30, has three years beyond this season on his contract, which is a lengthy term given his injury history.

But for today, the deal has made the Blue Jackets better. They are 10th in the Eastern Conference, but just five points behind first-place Tampa Bay and Carolina heading into play on Tuesday.

“It’s such an easy team to play for,” said Wood, who is fourth among Blue Jackets forwards with seven goals, despite playing only 13:26 per game.

“The guys in this room are outstanding. It’s a tight-knit group here. The transition from the Avs to here has been so smooth. I’m having a blast playing here.”

Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason has used Coyle as a third-line center, but he also sees significant time on both special teams and in the faceoff circle. Only Sean Monahan (479) has taken more draws than Coyle (398).

Wood has played all over the lineup, mostly on the fourth line but as high as the second line recently, with top-six wingers Jenner and Kirill Marchenko out of the Blue Jackets’ lineup with injuries.

BACK TO BUSINESS! 💥

COYLE GETS US THE LEAD!

CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/Bf1QyUyPx1

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) December 2, 2025

On Monday, Coyle and Wood teamed up for two massive goals in the third period.

At 6:40 of the third, Wood gained the zone with speed, circled around the net and fed the puck to Zach Werenski atop the left circle. Werenski’s shot was stopped by New Jersey goaltender Jake Allen, but Coyle was skating across to sweep up the rebound.

On the goal that made it 4-2, Wood once again used his speed to gain the offensive zone. Seconds later, Isac Lundeström fed Monahan down low in the right circle for a clean look on Allen.

The 5-3 goal was huge because the Blue Jackets had a rash of games in which they blew two-goal leads in the third period.

This time, Coyle was in on the forecheck, stripped New Jersey’s Luke Hughes low in the zone and fed Wood in the slot for the score.

Voronkov had his most noticeable game of the season. Fantilli won 12 of 17 faceoffs and won his first NHL fight. Lundeström had his best game as a Blue Jacket. But Coyle and Wood played a big part in a big win for the Blue Jackets.

“It’s always about that next one now,” Coyle said. “That’s one game. It’s a lot of positive stuff. We can learn about each other there. It can help us believe in our game. That’s really, really important.”