Blue Jackets cruise past Canadiens for fifth straight win
Seth Jones scored a pair of first period power-play goals and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 38 shots as the Columbus Blue Jackets claimed a 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night in Columbus.
Jones, however, left the game after the second period due to an upper-body injury.
The Blue Jackets have won five straight games and have claimed six consecutive victories at Nationwide Arena, this one after falling behind just 34 seconds into the clash.
Montreal's Brendan Gallagher -- one of the lone bright spots amid a disappointing season -- put the visitors on the board first by deflecting Jeff Petry's point shot past Bobrovsky for his career-high 25th goal of the season.
The Blue Jackets roared back. Nick Foligno put the hosts on the board at the 4:17 mark with a fortunate tally. He intercepted Jordie Benn's clearing attempt just inside the offensive zone and raced toward the net before attempting a pass across the slot. Benn swiped at the puck and knocked it off a teammate and into the cage behind goalie Charlie Lindgren.
Jones scored his first man-advantage marker at 7:51, a one-timed slapper from the point that made it through the maze of skaters in front of the besieged Montreal goalie.
Jones potted his second goal of the game -- and fifth in a three-game spree -- at 14:03. The rising star wristed a long shot that the screened Lindgren could only get a piece of with his glove. Jones now has 15 goals, which ties him with Calgary's Dougie Hamilton and Nashville's P.K. Subban for most among defensemen.
Boone Jenner scored at 2:34 of the second period to give Columbus a 4-1 lead. Lindgren made an excellent save when Jenner redirected Alexander Wennberg's shot-pass but had no chance on the rebound.
Jonathan Drouin scored on a breakaway with 4:14 remaining in the second period to bring the Canadiens within two, but Ian Cole's long point shot with 2:19 left in the third period rounded out the scoring.
Wennberg also collected three assists, while Artemi Panarin collected two helpers to give him nine points in a five-game point streak.
Lindgren made 20 saves for the Canadiens, who have dropped five straight.
--Field Level Media
