| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
|
CBJ GOALS: |
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Mason Marchment whiffed on a tip-in attempt in the final minute as the Columbus Blue Jackets came up just short Thursday night in Montreal, falling to the Canadiens by a final of 2-1.
It was the second loss in three games for the Blue Jackets, who dropped from second place in the Metro into a tie for third with the New York Islanders as a result of other action around the league Thursday.
Despite controlling play most of the period, the Blue Jackets found themselves behind 1-0 in the opening ten minutes of the game after Jayden Struble scored for the first time this season.
Columbus would respond just over two minutes later with a goal from Damon Severson, and the score would remain tied at 1-1 until the third period. That's when Zachary Bolduc would give the Habs a 2-1 lead at the 4:36 mark.
It was a lead they would not give up.
The Blue Jackets chance to tie it late came painfully close. That's when a shot from Adam Fantilli got through traffic and then through the legs of Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes, leaving the puck unguarded in the crease. But Marchment fanned on the put-back attempt, with the puck going just wide of the net to help secure a Canadiens victory.
Marchment JUST WHIFFED on it pic.twitter.com/y3icIszsWP
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 27, 2026
Jet Greaves finished the night with 18 saves on 20 shots.
Dobes stopped 25 of 26 shots for Montreal and was named the Second Star of the game.
Here's how the Blue Jackets closed their three-game road trip with a 1-2-0 record:
1st Period:
(9:54 — MTL Goal): Struble gives the Canadiens a 1-0 lead just before the midway point of the period. The Habs move the puck around the boards and it ends up on the stick of Bolduc. He skates into the high slot, then dishes to Struble at the faceoff dot. Struble moves in and fires a quick snapper past Greaves for the first goal of the game.
Jayden Struble breaks the ice in Montreal pic.twitter.com/l7r6s2YBIS
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 26, 2026
(12:17 — CBJ Goal): In a period mostly controlled by the Blue Jackets, it takes just over two minutes for them to respond with the tying goal. They scoop it from behind their net and Boone Jenner quickly moves up ice, entering the Montreal zone along the boards. Severson skates up the slot and Jenner hits him perfectly in stride, with Severson skating in and beating Dobes stick-side to make it a 1-1 game.
Montreal scored first but the #CBJ answered and it's 1-1 after one in the final game of the Jackets road trip. Columbus' goal came from Damon Severson with a great look from the captain to make it happen:pic.twitter.com/xo8LfgwdPC
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 26, 2026
2nd Period:
No scoring in the second period, but both Greaves and Dobes came up with big saves to keep the game even. Shots on goal were 8-6 in favor of the Canadiens during the middle frame. The only power play belonged to the Canadiens, whose dangerous man-advantage was held to one shot.
3rd Period:
(4:36 — MTL Goal): Bolduc gets his second point of the night and ends a streak of 32 games without a goal, giving Montreal the 2-1 lead in the process. He takes a great pass from Jake Evans and fires from just inside the circle to for what would be the game-winning goal.
Bolduc for the lead!!
— NHL (@NHL) March 27, 2026
Check out that pass from Jake Evans! pic.twitter.com/Tg2RxcfiN8
| CBJ | GAME STATS | MTL |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | SHOTS | 20 |
| 57 | SHOT ATTEMPTS | 40 |
| 32 | SCORING CHANCES | 16 |
| 13 | HIGH-DANGER CHANCES | 4 |
| 49% | FACEOFF PERCENTAGE | 51% |
| 0/1 | POWER PLAY | 0/2 |
| 2/2 | PENALTY KILL | 1/1 |
| 27 | HITS | 24 |
| 17 | GIVEAWAYS | 8 |
| 5 | TAKEAWAYS | 3 |
| 8 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 17 |
Stat Chat:
-
Despite the loss, the Blue Jackets had 59% of the shot attempts, 67% of the scoring chances, and 76% of the high-danger scoring chances. There were opportunities for them to score more.
-
This was the fifth time in the last six starts that Greaves allowed two goals or less. In his two losses this week, the Blue Jackets have managed just one total goal.
- The loss ends a brief, three-game point streak against the Canadiens (2-0-1).
Up Next:
The Blue Jackets return home with a big-time back-to-back this weekend. First up: the San Jose Sharks. Puck-drop Saturday at Nationwide Arena is set for 5:00 p.m. Columbus then faces the Boston Bruins on Sunday in another 5:00 p.m. faceoff.
