| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| CANADIENS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The Columbus Blue Jackets came into Saturday's makeup game with the Montreal Canadiens as winners of four of the last five games. The Blue Jackets narrowly avoided a letdown by taking care of business yet again, against the lowly Canadiens.
The Jackets struck quickly, getting on the board just over a minute into the game. Oliver Bjorkstrand picked up his 14th goal of the season and Patrik Laine kept his six game scoring streak alive with the assist. Bjorkstrand attempted to pass back to Laine, but the puck was blocked back into his stick. He took that opportunity to sink a shot right over the glove-side shoulder of Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault .
Early game, early goal!
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) February 12, 2022
Oliver Bjorkstrand puts #CBJ on the board first! pic.twitter.com/8mkal2EP15
This game looked like it might slip away from Montreal early. But despite the Blue Jackets outshooting the Canadiens 32-17 through the end of the second period, Columbus was still ahead just 1-0 going into the third period.
Montembeault blocked the next 31 shots of the first two periods after surrendering a goal to Bjorkstrand on the Jackets' first shot. Blue Jackets' goaltender Elvis Merzlikins didn't allow a goal until three minutes into the third period, saving the first 18 shots he faced, until he finally let one by. About :30 seconds later, Bjorkstrand had a chance to put the Blue Jackets back on top, but he was unable to convert.
Columbus started the third period with a shots on goal advantage of 15 (32-17). That advantage was cut to eight (38-30) with just five minutes left in the game. In the closing minutes of the game, the Jackets swung momentum back their way, allowing only one more shot the rest of the way. Columbus went on the power play with just under 90 seconds left in the game when Jeff Petry tripped Oliver Bjorkstrand. Third time was a charm for the Jackets' power play as Laine scored with just seven seconds in the game to lift Columbus over Montreal for their fifth win in the last six games.
LAINE LASER
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 12, 2022
Patrik Laine wins it for the Blue Jackets with 7.2 left on the clock. pic.twitter.com/SVpVOg4Tli
The goal was Laine's seventh goal in his last six games, his best streak as a Blue Jacket.
Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins' stopped 30 of Montreal's 31 shots in the victory.
NEXT UP
The Blue Jackets will stay in Canada, heading west to Alberta to face the Calgary Flames. The Flames defeated the Blue Jackets 6-0 last month, with Columbus allowing a franchise record 62 shots on goal in the defeat. Puck drop from Calgary is set for 9:00 p.m. Tuesday.
