COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets kept their playoff bid alive Monday night with a decisive 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus captain Boone Jenner led the charge with two goals and an assist, while goalie Elvis Merzlikins turned aside 27 shots to secure the win. The Blue Jackets improved to 38-33-7, remaining in contention for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with four games left in the regular season.
“We know what’s at stake every night right now,” Jenner said. “We’re playing desperate hockey, and that’s what it’s going to take to stay in this race.”
Cole Sillinger, Kirill Marchenko and Damon Severson also scored for Columbus, which jumped out to a 3-0 lead midway through the second period and never looked back. Montreal’s Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield responded in the third, but Columbus shut the door with a late power-play goal.
The win marked the Blue Jackets’ fourth in their last five games, keeping pace in a tight playoff race with the Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals.
Head coach Pascal Vincent praised his team’s intensity and discipline down the stretch. “We’re trusting each other and sticking to our system,” Vincent said. “Every shift matters right now, and the guys understand that.”
Columbus plays its next game Thursday night on the road against the New York Islanders, another team battling for postseason position.
