| 1 | 2 | 3 (OT) | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 1 | 1 (1) | 4 |
 |
1 | 1 | 1 (0) | 3 |
|
CBJ GOALS: |
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Zach Werenski's game-tying goal in the third period completed a Gordie Howe Hatty for the elite defenseman, but the Columbus Blue Jackets fell in overtime to the Montreal Canadians on Wednesday night by a 4-3 score.
Werenski picked up an assist on a first-period goal by Mathieu Olivier and had his first fight in over three years in the second period to give him the first two legs before the third period goal.
He now has points in six straight games.
Elvis Merzlikins, who was seeking his fifth straight win in net, made 19 saves on 23 shots from Montreal.
Here's how 61 minutes of hockey went down:
1st Period:
(9:08 — CBJ Goal): The Blue Jackets 1-0 all starts with hard work from Dante Fabbro and Zach Aston-Reese in their own corner. Fabbro fishes it out to Aston-Reese, who finds Zach Werenski with space in front of him. Olivier slows up and the two enter the zone together to generate a two-on-two situation with the Montreal defense. The puck makes it way into the corner and it all looks innocent enough until Olivier breaks away from the Canadien defenders and takes a slick feed from Werenski in the corner. Olivier picks up his seventh goal of the season, adding to his career best in November.
Mathieu Olivier's seventh goal of the season to give the #CBJ a 1-0 lead. Wonderful look from Zach Werenski, who gets the primary assist and (at least for now) his team-leading 21st point.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 28, 2024
Montreal just scored at 13:00 in the first, so we're now 1-1. pic.twitter.com/CnBzAlhz5K
(13:00 — MTL Goal): The Canadiens bring it back to all even on a play that starts with Kevin Labanc getting a tricky pass from Werenski that Montreal defenseman Jayden Struble is able to poke away from him. Juraj Slafkovsky picks up the loose puck and snaps it past Merzlikins to tie it up at 1-1. The top pick of the 2022 NHL Draft gets his second goal of the season.
2nd Period
(4:27 — CBJ Goal): A slick move from Chinakhov to beat Primeau gives him his seventh goal of the season. Adam Fantilli makes a great play to find him, and Kent Johnson gets the secondary assist. He now has at least one point in each of his seven games this season.
Chinny's seventh of the season comes at 4:27 of the second. Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson get the apples on a line that looks like a lot of fun.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 28, 2024
The goal gave the #CBJ a 2-1 lead, but we're now 2-2.pic.twitter.com/bo28csQmuh
(6:34 — MTL Goal): The Blue Jackets have a bad habit of giving up goals quickly after scoring them. In the first period, it was 3:52 after they took a lead. Here, it was just 2:07 before the Columbus lead would vanish again. Sean Kuraly went to the box for a high-stick (his second penalty of the game) and Cole Caufield makes 'em pay with his team-leading 13th goal of the season. Slafkovsky gets the assist for his second point of the night.
(16:15): Zach Werenski doesn't usually fight — but he did on this night. His first fighting major since January of 2021 is a decisive victory, making Brendan Gallagher wonder if he should've taken that battle.
Zach Werenski can do everything, and if you tell him otherwise, he'll make you pay. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/IbImV7GiMk
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 28, 2024
3rd Period
(8:24 — MTL Goal): After tying the game in each of the first two periods, the Canadiens take their first lead near the midway point of the third period. Emil Heineman gets around Damon Severson and beats Merzlikins on a nifty finish to give Montreal a 3-2 lead.
(12:22 — CBJ Goal): After the assist and the fight, the final step in the Gordie Howe Hat Trick for Werenski came at 12:22 of the third period with Werenski's seventh goal of the season.
Columbus goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) November 28, 2024
Scored by Zach Werenski with 07:38 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Damon Severson and Dmitri Voronkov.
Columbus: 3
Montreal: 3#MTLvsCBJ #CBJ #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Al8LFgDr0K
(0:44/OT — MTL Goal): Nick Suzuki wins it less than a minute into overtime for the Canadiens, scoring his 8th goal of the season at 0:44 of the extra session. Johnson was hauled down just before the Canadiens would win it, leaving a number of the Nationwide faithful unhappy.
| MTL | GAME STATS | CBJ |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | SHOTS | 24 |
| 51% | FACEOFFS | 49% |
| 1/2 | POWER PLAY | 0/3 |
| 3/3 | PENALTY KILL | 1/2 |
| 24 | HITS | 25 |
| 9 | GIVEAWAYS | 14 |
| 5 | TAKEAWAYS | 2 |
| 14 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 16 |
| ALL SITUATIONS ADVANCED STATS | ||
| 2.52 | EXPECTED GOALS | 2.35 |
| 60 | SHOT ATTEMPTS | 55 |
| 33 | SCORING CHANCES | 21 |
| 9 | HIGH-DANGER CHANCES | 9 |
|
DATA VIA: NHL.COM & NATURALSTATTRICK.COM |
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Stat Chat:
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Sean Kuraly picked up two minors in the first two periods, the second of which led to a Montreal goal. That would be the end of the night, as head coach Dean Evason benched him. Kuraly played just 4:07 in the overtime loss.
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From the game preview: "Columbus can probably win this game 5-on-5, but if they can't stay out of the box and can't connect when given an opportunity on the power play, it may not go so well."
The Blue Jackets missed on both all three of their power play opportunities, including one with just over three minutes left in the game — and they gave up a power play goal. Special teams was the difference.
Up Next:
The Blue Jackets complete a four-game homestand Friday afternoon against the Calgary Flames. It's an early puck drop for Black Friday, with faceoff slated for 3:00 p.m.
