Excerpt from 'Rocket Hockey Report' of host Amy Johnson commenting on the paper transactions processed last week for Jayden Struble and Joshua Roy. GAME RECAP | MONTREAL CANADIENS 3 VS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 0 | FINAL The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0OTc5ODYzODAxNTcwOTQ4/20240312_213406_0000.png] The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0. CANADIENS LINEUP Forwards 22 Cole Caufield - 14 Nick Suzuki - 20 Juraj Slafkovsky 89 Joshua Roy - 15 Alex Newhook - 40 Joel Armia 11 Brendan Gallagher - 71 Jake Evans - 17 Josh Anderson 55 Michael Pezzetta - 49 Rafael Harvey-Pinard - 70 Tanner Pearson Defensemen 8 Mike Matheson - 21 Kaiden Guhle 72 Arber Xhekaj - 58 David Savard 47 Jayden Struble - 26 Johnathan Kovacevic Goaltenders Starter: 30 Cayden Primeau Alternate: 35 Sam Montembeault Out of the lineup Scratches: Jesse Ylonen, Jordan Harris Injuries: Carey Price (knee), Chris Wideman (back), Kirby Dach (knee), Christian Dvorak (upper body), Colin White (upper body) CANADIENS CONNECTION PODCAST [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K185n_QVLZA[/embed] GAME REPORT Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins hadn't made a start in goal for 10 days. He lasted just 5:48 in the Blue Jackets net on Tuesday night. The Canadiens scored three times on their first four shots on goal chasing Merzlikins who was replaced by Daniil Tarasov. Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring just 21 seconds into the contest, set up on a smart play by Jake Evans. Almost three minutes later, Juraj Slafkovsky put the Canadiens up 2-0 firing a one-timer for a power play goal. Joshua Roy was credited with the third Montreal goal as an Arber Xhekaj point hot deflected off him into the Columbus goal. And that was it for the scoring, all recorded before the six minute mark of the game. Tarasov and Cayden Primeau stopped everything that came their way. Primeau registered his second shutout of the season. Icing a lineup that was bolstered by the Cleveland Monsters, Columbus carried the play for all three periods and dominated time in the offensive zone. Shot attempts were 71-38 for the Blue Jackets, however, high-danger scoring chances were even at 11-11 (5vs5.) The Canadiens had a considerable advantage blocking shots at 32-7. Jake Evans, Tanner Pearson, Michael Pezzetta and Rafael Harvey-Pinard were the only Canadiens without a blocked shot. Montreal defended well killing four penalties upping their streak to zero goals in the past 14 times they have been shorthanded. GAME STATISTICS Canadiens (25-30-10) Shots: 23 Face-off %: 46.8 Power play: 1/3 Penalty minutes: 10 Hits: 18 Blocks: 32 Blue Jackets (22-33-10) Shots: 41 Face-off %: 53.2 Power play: 0/4 Penalty minutes: 8 Hits: 16 Blocks: 7 SCORING SUMMARY Canadiens Scorers 1st period: Gallagher (11), Slafkovsky (14)-PPG, Roy (4) 2nd period: -- 3rd period: -- OT: -- SO: -- Blue Jackets Scorers 1st period: -- 2nd period: -- 3rd period: -- OT: -- SO: -- Goaltenders MTL: Primeau (W) 6-6-2 CBJ: Merzlikins (L) 12-14-7, Tarasov CANADIENS PLAYERS OF THE GAME David Savard - Savard had seven blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in over twenty-two minutes of ice time.. Cayden Primeau - Primeau made 41 saves. He has now shutout Columbus and Anaheim this season. Sam Montembeault has one career shutout in 134 games over parts of six seasons. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRergB5hfAc[/embed] POST-GAME QUOTES Cayden Primeau "It just means so much all the support. There are truly no words to describe it." UP NEXT The Canadiens complete their three game home stand as they host the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal [https://thn.com/montreal] for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world. The Hockey News: Pick A Free Issue! [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk3MTk4Mzc0MTE4Nzc2/hockeynewsad.jpg] The Hockey News: Pick A Free Issue!
