Canadiens’ Best Effort Yields Same Result

The Montreal Canadiens faced their fourth consecutive loss on Monday, falling 4-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kirill Marchenko played a crucial role, scoring the decisive goal in the shootout and recording two assists during regulation time. This achievement marked his twelfth consecutive game with at least one point, setting the longest active streak in the NHL.

Game Highlights and Scoring Summary

Marchenko, who is 25 years old, has accumulated three goals and 15 points over the course of this streak. In the shootout, Kent Johnson opened the scoring for Columbus, and Cole Caufield responded for Montreal. Marchenko converted his attempt, while Ivan Demidov was unable to score for the Canadiens.

Key Players and Performances

• Kirill Marchenko: Scored decisive shootout goal; two assists.
• Cole Caufield: Scored to keep Montreal in the game.
• Zach Werenski: Scored in the first period, close to 400 career points in the NHL.
• Jet Greaves: Made 29 saves for Columbus.
• Jakub Dobes: Stopped 20 shots for Montreal.

During regulation, goals from Zach Werenski, Adam Fantili, and Dmitri Voronkov propelled the Blue Jackets into a strong position. Despite being outplayed early, Montreal rallied in the third period. Josh Anderson scored at 8:28, and Lane Hutson equalized with a powerful wrist shot at 18:41.

Injury and Discipline Issues

Montreal’s discipline waned in the second period, resulting in too many penalties that allowed Columbus to capitalize, including a goal from Voronkov off a pass from Marchenko. The game reflected a mixed performance, where despite the loss, coach Martin St-Louis highlighted encouraging aspects of the team’s collective play.

Looking Ahead

Montreal will host the Blue Jackets again on March 26 and April 11, seeking to change their fortunes. They will also face the Washington Capitals at home on Thursday, aiming for a turnaround in their current form.

Overall, while the Canadiens displayed encouraging teamwork, they need to convert these efforts into victories to improve their standings. This latest match illustrated both areas of strength and room for growth.