Home Sport live NHL Marchenko’s last-minute tally propels Blue Jackets to 5-4 victory over Canadiens

Marchenko’s last-minute tally propels Blue Jackets to 5-4 victory over Canadiens

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Marchenko’s last-minute tally propels Blue Jackets to 5-4 victory over Canadiens

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a thrilling matchup on Monday evening, Kirill Marchenko found the net with just 2:12 remaining in regulation time, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. This win marked Columbus’s second consecutive victory on home ice, managing an impressive comeback after giving up two-goal leads twice during the game.

Dmitri Voronkov contributed significantly with two goals, marking a five-game point streak for him. Kent Johnson also joined the scoring with a single goal, while Jordan Harris celebrated his first goal with Columbus. Both Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan played pivotal roles by providing three assists each, and Marchenko complemented his goal with two assists, showcasing a well-rounded team effort.

Goaltender Jet Greaves stood tall, saving 27 shots and helping the Blue Jackets put an end to a seven-game losing streak against Montreal, with the last win against them dating back to November 23, 2022.

On the Canadiens’ side, David Savard and Jake Evans each scored a goal and added an assist to their stats, while Lane Hutson was able to keep his point streak alive, scoring in his sixth consecutive game. Joel Armia also found the net for Montreal, and Cole Caufield chipped in with two assists. Sam Montembeault, in goal, made 27 saves but could not secure the win for the team, which had been riding a three-game winning streak prior to this match.

Looking at the takeaways, the Canadiens displayed resilience as they battled back after trailing in the first two periods, yet they could not clinch the victory. Historically, when the Canadiens find themselves behind after the first period, they have struggled, holding a record of 0-11-1 in those situations.

For the Blue Jackets, their intensity was evident from the start and carried through to the end of the game. Despite squandering a two-goal advantage for the second match in a row, they managed to energize the crowd with a couple of crucial goals in the third period, culminating in Marchenko’s decisive final goal.

A pivotal moment in the game came when Voronkov found the back of the net just 14 seconds into a third-period power play, equalizing after the team had fallen behind due to Armia’s goal just 20 seconds earlier. Marchenko’s goal, his third point of the night, ultimately secured the win for Columbus.

Notably, Marchenko’s remarkable performance extended his point streak to six games, while Werenski set a franchise milestone by accumulating points in 11 consecutive home games.

Looking ahead, the Canadiens are set to battle it out against Florida on Saturday, whereas the Blue Jackets will host the Boston Bruins on Friday night.