Schedule / Matchup Preview

Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview @ Blue Jackets · TUE · DEC 22 · 6:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
TUE · DEC 22 · 6:00 PM CT
Nationwide Arena
CBJNHL · CBJHN
Montreal Canadiens
Canadiens
1–0–1
@
Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets
1–1–0
Upcoming
TUE · DEC 22 · 6:00 PM CT
CBJNHL · CBJHN
Montreal Canadiens
Away · Canadiens
1–0–1
3 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
The problem is Zach Werenski, who has 6 points in his last 4 against the Canadiens.
Nationwide Arena
Columbus Blue Jackets
Home · Blue Jackets
1–1–0
2 PTS
Canadiens
GOALIES
Blue Jackets
Jakub Dobes
Jakub Dobes
Expected
.862 SV% · 4.04 GAA · 1W
.882 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Jet Greaves
Jet Greaves
Expected
.877 SV% · 3.50 GAA · 1W
.887 SV% L5 · Cooling
Canadiens
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Blue Jackets
L1
Cole Caufield · Nick Suzuki · Chris Kreider
L1
Matthew Knies · Adam Fantilli · Kent Johnson
L2
Juraj Slafkovsky · Alex Newhook · Ivan Demidov
L2
Valeri Nichushkin · Sean Monahan · Conor Garland
L3
Alexandre Texier · Phillip Danault · Kirby Dach
L3
Cole Sillinger · Charlie Coyle · Mathieu Olivier
L4
Zack Bolduc · Jake Evans · Josh Anderson
L4
Ryan Lomberg · Danton Heinen · Dmitri Voronkov
D1
Mike Matheson · Noah Dobson
D1
Zach Werenski · Denton Mateychuk
D2
Lane Hutson · Alexandre Carrier
D2
Carson Soucy · Emil Andrae
D3
Jayden Struble · Arber Xhekaj
D3
Jake Christiansen · Erik Gudbranson
PP1
Juraj Slafkovsky · Nick Suzuki · Ivan Demidov · Cole Caufield · Lane Hutson
PP1
Matthew Knies · Charlie Coyle · Adam Fantilli · Kent Johnson · Zach Werenski
PP2
Chris Kreider · Alex Newhook · Alexandre Texier · Zack Bolduc · Noah Dobson
PP2
Conor Garland · Dmitri Voronkov · Valeri Nichushkin · Denton Mateychuk · Sean Monahan
PK1
Phillip Danault · Josh Anderson · Mike Matheson · Alexandre Carrier
PK1
Charlie Coyle · Sean Monahan · Zach Werenski · Denton Mateychuk
PK2
Jake Evans · Alex Newhook · Lane Hutson · Noah Dobson
PK2
Cole Sillinger · Valeri Nichushkin · Jake Christiansen · Erik Gudbranson
CanadiensProjected lines
L1
Cole Caufield · Nick Suzuki · Chris Kreider
L2
Juraj Slafkovsky · Alex Newhook · Ivan Demidov
L3
Alexandre Texier · Phillip Danault · Kirby Dach
L4
Zack Bolduc · Jake Evans · Josh Anderson
D1
Mike Matheson · Noah Dobson
D2
Lane Hutson · Alexandre Carrier
D3
Jayden Struble · Arber Xhekaj
PP1
Juraj Slafkovsky · Nick Suzuki · Ivan Demidov · Cole Caufield · Lane Hutson
PP2
Chris Kreider · Alex Newhook · Alexandre Texier · Zack Bolduc · Noah Dobson
PK1
Phillip Danault · Josh Anderson · Mike Matheson · Alexandre Carrier
PK2
Jake Evans · Alex Newhook · Lane Hutson · Noah Dobson
Blue JacketsProjected lines
L1
Matthew Knies · Adam Fantilli · Kent Johnson
L2
Valeri Nichushkin · Sean Monahan · Conor Garland
L3
Cole Sillinger · Charlie Coyle · Mathieu Olivier
L4
Ryan Lomberg · Danton Heinen · Dmitri Voronkov
D1
Zach Werenski · Denton Mateychuk
D2
Carson Soucy · Emil Andrae
D3
Jake Christiansen · Erik Gudbranson
PP1
Matthew Knies · Charlie Coyle · Adam Fantilli · Kent Johnson · Zach Werenski
PP2
Conor Garland · Dmitri Voronkov · Valeri Nichushkin · Denton Mateychuk · Sean Monahan
PK1
Charlie Coyle · Sean Monahan · Zach Werenski · Denton Mateychuk
PK2
Cole Sillinger · Valeri Nichushkin · Jake Christiansen · Erik Gudbranson
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:18 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:22 AM CT
Canadiens
INJURY REPORT
Blue Jackets
Oliver Kapanen
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Alexandre Carrier
DAY-TO-DAY · Undisclosed injury
Bryce Pickford
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 17
Lucas Condotta
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Kaiden Guhle
IR · Groin (surgery) · Expected back Oct 23
CanadiensInjury report
Oliver Kapanen
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Alexandre Carrier
DAY-TO-DAY · Undisclosed injury
Bryce Pickford
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 17
Lucas Condotta
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Kaiden Guhle
IR · Groin (surgery) · Expected back Oct 23
Blue JacketsInjury report
No injuries reported
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:18 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:22 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Canadiens lost their last game in overtime and are 1-0-1 in their first 2 games. The Blue Jackets lost their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

The problem is Zach Werenski, who has 6 points in his last 4 against the Canadiens.

A milestone is in reach for Miles Wood: 2 more goals for 200 career goals.

The numbers behind it
Player
Zach Werenski has 6 points in his last 4 games against Montreal. See the games →
(Columbus)
6 pts, last 4 vs MTL
Player
Jake Evans has 5 points in his last 4 games against Columbus. See the games →
(Montreal)
5 pts, last 4 vs CBJ
Milestone
Miles Wood is 2 goals shy of 200 career goals.
198 career goals
Milestone
Chris Kreider is 3 goals shy of 700 career goals.
697 career goals