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Columbus Blue Jackets (32 pts) vs. Montréal Canadiens (31 pts) Game Preview

jason newland
·2 min read

The Jackets are back at home to face the Montreal Canadiens tonight, a team they just can't seem to solve this season. The Jackets have lost the two previous meetings by a combined 9-4.

The Canadiens have suddenly gotten dangerous with the return of former Columbus forward Patrik Laine to their lineup. He's played nine games this season and has 8 goals and 9 points. All 8 of his goals have been power-play goals. Most of his goals have come with him standing all alone, and wide open. The Blue Jackets would be wise not to do that tonight.

Related: Columbus To Promote Star Prospect Denton Mateychuk

The Habs are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have won their last 3. In those three wins, they've outscored their opponents 15-5, so yeah, they're kind of hot right now.

The Jackets could be getting an injection of youth tonight as young Denton Mateychuk has been called up, and we await word on whether or not he will be making his NHL debut.

Montréal currently sits 6th in the Atlantic, 14th in the East, and 26th in the NHL.

Series History vs. The Canadiens

  • Columbus is 10-7-2 at home and 20-17-6 in 43 all-time meetings vs. Montréal.

  • The Jackets have gone 0-5-2 in the last seven against the Habs, including both games this season.

  • The Blue Jackets are 8-3-1 in the last 12 against the Canadiens in Columbus.

Who To Watch For The Canadiens

  • Patrik Laine has 8 goals on the season, all of which are power-play goals.

  • Nick Suzuki leads the team with 34 points. He also has 17 points in 14 games against the CBJ.

  • Cole Caufield leads the Habs with 17 goals.

CBJ Player Notes vs. The Canadiens

  • James van Riemsdyk has 34 points in 48 games vs. the Canadiens.

  • Sean Monahan has 19 points in 27 games.

  • Kevin Labanc has 10 points in 13 games against Montréal.

Injuries

  • Boone Jenner (shoulder) is on Injured Reserve on Oct. 7; (34 Games)

  • Erik Gudbranson (upper body) is on Injured Reserve on Oct. 16; (31 Games)

  • Yegor Chinakhov (upper body) is on Injured Reserve (13 Games)

  • Justin Danforth (lower body) is on Injured Reserve on Dec.10; (6 Games)

  • Dante Fabbro (lower body); (2 Games)

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 132

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.

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