Blue Jackets 3, Canadiens 2 (SO)
Rick Nash scored in the second round of the shootout to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 3-2 victory over the host Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
Vinny Prospal and R.J. Umberger had goals and Curtis Sanford made 18 saves for the Blue Jackets, who finished 2-2-0 on their four-game road trip, with both victories coming via the shootout.
Nash was the second skater for Columbus after Ryan Johansen had been denied in the opening round. The Columbus captain started out on the right side of the net before bringing the puck back to his left and stuffing it past Carey Price’s stick side.
Sanford stopped Brian Gionta in the next round to clinch it.
The Canadiens forced overtime with 1:21 left in regulation. Tomas Plekanec brought the puck down the right side on an even rush and slipped a pass into the slot to an unmarked Gionta, who shielded the puck from Sanford before slipping it past his left skate.
Umberger gave the Blue Jackets the lead in the second period. Hiding on the left boards as Nikita Nikitin controlled the puck in the neutral zone, Umberger broke free and received a perfect feed, beating two defenders into the Montreal zone and surprising Price with a wrist shot.
Price finished with 26 saves for the Canadiens, who have dropped four of five.