Canadiens at Blue Jackets
The white-hot Columbus Blue Jackets are riding high with the best record in the NHL and an 11-game winning streak following an eye-opening demolition of the defending Stanley Cup champions. Columbus, tied for the most points in the league with Chicago (with four games in hand), faces another heavyweight matchup when it hosts the Atlantic Division-leading Montreal Canadiens on Friday night.
The Blue Jackets, who have lost an NHL-low five games in regulation, will be facing an opponent bent on revenge -- they handed Montreal one of the most humbling defeats in its storied history with a 10-0 mauling on Nov. 4. Columbus matched a franchise record with a 13-game point streak (12-0-1) after bludgeoning Pittsburgh 7-1 on Thursday night to leapfrog the Penguins and take over first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Canadiens will not have an easy task avenging the earlier loss to the Blue Jackets as they are playing a back-to-back against the two hottest teams in hockey. Montreal was unable to hold a pair of one-goal leads on Thursday against Minnesota, which ran its winning streak to nine games with a 4-2 win over the Canadiens.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet East, RDS (Montreal), FSN Ohio (Columbus)
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (21-8-4): Backup goaltender Al Montoya, who was left in net for all 10 goals in the first meeting Columbus, will get a chance at redemption Friday, Montreal coach Michel Therrien confirmed after Thursday's game. Montoya has lost his last four outings (0-3-1) and seven of his eight starts this season have come on the road. Defenseman Alexei Emelin will sit out his second straight game to remain home with his wife, who gave birth to the couple's third child on Thursday.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (22-5-4): Columbus spotted Pittsburgh a one-goal lead before roaring back with seven unanswered tallies, including three in a 51-second span early in the third period to put the game out of reach. Scott Hartnell registered his ninth career hat trick - and first since March 24, 2015 - to spark the Blue Jackets, who lead the league with a plus-44 goal differential. Sergei Bobrovsky has won nine straight starts to become the league's first goaltender to 20 victories.
OVERTIME
1. Blue Jackets F Cam Atkinson has seven goals and six assists during an eight-game point streak.
2. Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty has nine goals in the last nine games and six tallies in 11 matchups with Columbus.
3. Blue Jackets F Brandon Saad has four goals in his last four games overall and four in eight contests against Montreal.