The Montreal Canadiens continued their winning ways Thursday night, edging out the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 at the Bell Centre. Zachary Bolduc broke a lengthy scoring drought to net the game-winner, marking his first goal since December 23. Goaltender Jakub Dobes was also solid in net, stopping 25 shots to secure the victory for Montreal.
Jayden Struble also contributed to the Canadiens'score, notching his first goal of the season. Struble's goal opened the scoring for Montreal, with an assist from Lane Hutson. Hutson's assist marked his 70th point of the season, making him the fourth defenseman in Canadiens history to reach that milestone. Damon Severson responded for Columbus, but it wasn't enough to overcome Montreal's strong play.
Bolduc's decisive goal came 4:36 into the third period, snapping a 1-1 tie. He fired a shot into the top-left corner, giving the Canadiens a lead they would not relinquish. The win marks the Canadiens' third straight, boosting their record to 40-21-10.
With 11 games remaining in the season, the Canadiens are currently sitting third in the Atlantic Division. The Blue Jackets, despite the loss, remain in contention in the Metropolitan Division, sitting second with a record of 38-23-11. The Canadiens will look to continue their streak as they visit the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
