Canadiens Edge Blue Jackets 2-1: Game Recap & Highlights
MONTREAL – Zachary Bolduc ended a 31-game goal drought with the decisive tally in the third period, lifting the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre on Thursday night. The win marked the Canadiens’ third consecutive victory and solidified their position in the competitive Atlantic Division.
Bolduc’s goal, scored at , came at of the final frame, breaking a lengthy scoring slump. He received a pass from Jake Evans and drove the left side of the slot before firing a shot over the right shoulder of Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves. The goal was Bolduc’s first since .
“It was a little bit of a relief and I’m super happy that we got out of this game with a win,” Bolduc said, as reported by NHL.com. He as well added an assist on Jayden Struble’s first goal since , which opened the scoring for Montreal.
Struble’s goal came at of the first period, giving the Canadiens an early lead. The play involved a wrist shot that slipped past Greaves on the short side. The Canadiens’ scoring was rounded out by solid goaltending from Jakub Dobes, who made 25 saves throughout the game.
The Blue Jackets responded in the first period with a goal from Damon Severson at , tying the game at 1-1. Severson capitalized on a 2-on-1 opportunity, beating Dobes blocker-side after a turnover by Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson.
The second and third periods were characterized by tight checking and strong defensive play from both sides. Greaves finished the night with 18 saves for Columbus, keeping his team within striking distance. However, Bolduc’s goal proved to be the difference.
With the win, Montreal improved to 40-21-10, moving two points ahead of the idle Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division standings. The Canadiens are now within four points of the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning, who lost in overtime to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. The Canadiens are demonstrating an ability to win close games against strong competition as they push for a higher seed in the Eastern Conference.
“If you glance at our schedule, we play a lot of solid teams or teams that are pushing for the playoffs,” Evans said. “So it’s going to be tighter games, harder games and I think we’re adapting right now pretty well.”
Columbus, now 38-23-11, has lost two of its last three games. Despite the loss, Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner acknowledged a strong performance from his team. The Blue Jackets have been on a strong run since Rick Bowness took over as head coach on , climbing to third in the Metropolitan Division, but couldn’t maintain their momentum in Montreal.
Dobes’ performance was particularly noteworthy, following a career-high 41-save performance in Tuesday’s win over the Carolina Hurricanes. His consistent play in net has been a key factor in the Canadiens’ recent success. Struble highlighted the significance of Bolduc’s goal, calling it a “huge goal for our season.”
The game was a physical contest, with a total of five penalties called – two for Montreal and three for Columbus – but neither team was able to capitalize on the power play. The Canadiens’ victory underscores their growing confidence and resilience as they navigate a challenging schedule in the final stretch of the regular season. The Blue Jackets, while competitive, will look to rebound in their next game and maintain their playoff positioning.