The Montreal Canadiens enter Monday night’s clash with the Columbus Blue Jackets not just fighting for points, but for credibility. After a dazzling October start, November has exposed cracks in Montreal’s foundation, with a sputtering power play and a rash of injuries threatening to derail their early-season promise.
The Canadiens (10-6-2) have dropped momentum after losing Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, and Alex Newhook to long-term injuries in a brutal four-day stretch. Head coach Martin St-Louis has been blunt: the League doesn’t wait for sympathy. Montreal must adapt quickly, beginning with a matchup against a Blue Jackets team they’ve dominated in seven of their last eight meetings.
Columbus (9-7-2) may not boast eye-popping stats, but Kirill Marchenko’s scoring surge — seven points in his last five games — has kept them competitive. The Jackets have alternated between cold streaks and hot runs, entering Monday 5-3-2 in their last 10 and closing out a three-game homestand at Nationwide Arena, where they hold a 4-3-1 record.
The numbers tell a story of contrasts: Montreal averages 3.33 goals per game but allows 3.44, while Columbus sits at 3.11 for and 3.17 against. The Canadiens’ power play (21.43%) dwarfs the Jackets’ (16.28%), but their penalty kill efficiency has dipped under pressure.
All eyes will be on 19-year-old Demidov, who has been held off the scoresheet in three straight games. Montreal needs him to rediscover his offensive spark to halt the slide. On the other side, Marchenko remains Columbus’ most dangerous weapon, carrying the offensive load with consistency.
Jakub Dobes will start in net for Montreal, a decision announced Sunday, as the Canadiens attempt to reclaim their swagger in hostile territory. For Columbus, the opportunity is clear: expose Montreal’s fragility and prove that the Canadiens’ early-season dominance was more illusion than reality.