Canadiens Chase Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins Early In First Period, Beat Blue Jackets 3-0

By Coby Maeir on March 12, 2024 at 9:39 pm
Montreal Canadiens left wing Michael Pezzetta (55) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Bean (22) collide with each other and fall on the ice during the first period at Bell Centre.
© David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
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Behind three goals in the first 5:48 of the game, the Canadiens beat the Blue Jackets 3-0 at Centre Bell in Montreal on Tuesday. 

  1 2 3 F
BLUE JACKETS 0 0 0 0
MTL CANADIENS 3 0 0 3

1st Period

Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring at 0:21 with a nifty top-shelf shot from the doorstep to beat Elvis Merzlikins.

Juraj Slafkovsky's right-circle one-timer on the power play doubled Montreal's lead at 3:15.

Joshua Roy gave the Canadiens a three-goal lead at 5:48 with a deflection off Arber Xhekaj's slapshot from the point. After the goal, Daniil Tarasov replaced Merzlikins, who allowed three goals on four shots. 

Montreal led Columbus 3-0 after 20 minutes while the Blue Jackets took a 22-8 advantage in shots on goal into the second period. 

2nd Period

Boone Jenner had a great chance to put the Blue Jackets on the board to start the period but he was unable to get a shot away. 

Tarasov made a key save at 15:25 when he robbed Alex Newhook from the doorstep to keep the Columbus deficit at three. 

3rd Period

Carson Meyer had a great chance at 4:46 after shooting the puck to himself off the end boards before firing a shot from the left slot on Cayden Primeau, who made the save. 

Adam Boqvist hit the crossbar with a left-point wrist shot at 5:19 in another near Blue Jackets goal.

With the 3-0 loss, the Blue Jackets are now 22-33-10. 

Stats

  • Shots on Goal: CBJ 41-23 MTL
  • Faceoff %: CBJ 53.7-46.3 MTL
  • Power play: CBJ 0/4-1/3 MTL
  • Takeaways: CBJ 11-17 MTL
  • Giveaways: CBJ 5-6 MTL
  • Blocked shots: CBJ 7-32 MTL
  • Hits: CBJ 16-18 MTL
  • 5-on-5 stats (via naturalstattrick.com):
    • Expected Goals (xG): CBJ 2.61-2.33 MTL
    • Shot Attempts (CF): CBJ 71-38 MTL
    • Shots on Goal (SF): CBJ 27-19 MTL
    • Scoring Chances (SCF): CBJ 31-18 MTL
    • High-Danger Chances (HDCF): CBJ 11-11 MTL

Injury Update

  • Patrik Laine entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Jan. 28 and will be away from the team indefinitely.
  • Adam Fantilli suffered a calf laceration on Jan. 28 and is expected to miss eight weeks. 
  • Kent Johnson has been placed on injured reserve with a torn labrum in his left shoulder that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. He underwent successful surgery on Thursday and is expected to make a full recovery in six months.
  • Justin Danforth suffered a concussion on Thursday and missed his second consecutive game on Tuesday. There is no timetable for his return.
  • Kirill Marchenko missed the game with an illness.
  • Yegor Chinakhov left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return. 

Next Up

The Jackets return to Columbus to take on the Ottawa Senators on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.

The club continues its homestand on Saturday when they host the San Jose Sharks at 7 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.

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