Canadiens have little trouble in extending Jackets' woes

Mike Matheson had a goal and an assist to help the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-1 win against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Cole Caufield and Joel Armia each had two assists for the Canadiens, who have won two of their past three games after a six-game losing streak. Sam Montembeault made 25 saves.

Dante Fabbro scored and Daniil Tarasov made 25 saves for the Blue Jackets, who have lost seven of eight.

Matheson scored on the power play to give Montreal a 1-0 lead at 4:59 of the first period. Caufield sent a quick pass to Matheson at the top of the slot for a one-timer past a screened Tarasov.

That spurred the Canadiens, who built up a 10-4 shot advantage by the midpoint of the period.

The Blue Jackets started to pick up their pace as the frame progressed, getting more chances as they narrowed the shot deficit.

That continued into the second period and Columbus was rewarded at 7:40, with Fabbro tying it 1-1. Moments after Sean Kuraly's shot from the slot missed high, Zach Werenski fed Fabbro at the left point for a one-timer through traffic that beat a screened Montembeault glove side.

Columbus controlled the puck for much of the period, limiting Montreal to one shot on goal just past the midway mark.

The Canadiens got back on track in the latter half of the period and capitalized, with Nick Suzuki putting them ahead 2-1 at 15:49. Armia sent a short feed in the neutral zone over to Suzuki, who carried it in before cutting to the high slot and snapping it under Tarasov's glove.

Lucas Condotta scored on a one-timer from the left hashmarks to push it to a 3-1 Montreal lead at 11:04 of the third period. Jake Evans's 100th career point made it 4-1 with a quick tip-in in front of a feed from Caufield at 12:52.

Matheson's point shot deflected off Josh Anderson in front, extending it to 5-1 at 15:55.

--Field Level Media