Columbus Blue Jackets VS Montreal Canadiens
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Starters:
Blue Jackets: Anisimov-Johansen-Umberger, Johnson-Tyutin, Bobrovsky
Montreal: Prust-Plekanec-Gionta, Markov-Subban, Price
Out:
Foligno: Personal Reasons
Gaborik: Illness
Prout: Healthy Scratch
Calvert: Injured Reserve
First Period
60 seconds into the first period, and both teams already had shots on goal. After a breakaway from PK Subban, Ryan Johansen slashed him and the Habs got the first power play of the game. Rene Bourque scored early in the power play assisted by Subban. Sergei Bobrovsky made some huge saves resulting in groans from the Montreal Canadiens fans. Boone Jenner showed why he belongs on the top line with some great plays.
After a few minutes of back and forth, Michal Bournival scored his first NHL goal against the Blue Jackets. Brandon Dubinsky makes a big hit on Brendan Gallagher and Galchenyuk throws a punch and gets a penalty. Blue Jackets go on the power play for all of 15 seconds until RJ Umberger is called for goalie interference. At the end of the period, Umberger was playing on Dubinsky’s line and the Blue Jackets seem to have finally gotten control of the game.
Second Period
Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
The second period began with a long shift for Wisniewski and a couple of big shots from Fedor Tyutin. Jackets went on the power play due to an elbow by PK Subban. Andrei Markov scored a shorthanded goal when the Blue Jackets didn’t clear their zone. At the end of the power play, Boone Jenner scored his first NHL goal assisted by David Savard.
There was a small kerfuffle. Soon after, Ryan White was called for hooking and the Blue Jackets are back on the power play. Boone was then called for tripping Plekanec. After a few more minutes of play, Ryan Johansen scored after a feed from Fedor Tyutin.
Third Period
In the first few minutes of the third period, Gionta was called for high sticking and the Jackets go on another power play. Boone Jenner scores his second NHL goal ever (and second of the night) to even the score to 3-3. Dubinsky was called for holding and the Jackets went down a skater. With 5:46 remaining in the game, PK Subban was called for high sticking on Blake Comeau.
With the score tied, the Jackets used a time out to regroup. Gionta shot a puck off of Ryan Murray’s leg. In the final 42 seconds, Gorges was called for a penalty and Todd Richards pulled Bobrovsky so that the Jackets have a 2 man advantage. At 15 seconds left, the Habs scored an empty net goal, sealing the deal for a 5-3 Habs win.