Columbus Blue Jackets vs Montréal Canadiens Picks and Predictions December 23rd 2024

Canadiens Ride Momentum into Clash with Blue Jackets

The Montreal Canadiens will look to extend their season-high three-game winning streak when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. The Canadiens, buoyed by Patrik Laine’s offensive spark and strong goaltending from Sam Montembeault, enter the matchup brimming with confidence.

Laine Lighting It Up

Laine has been on fire since his return from a preseason knee injury, notching five goals during the Canadiens’ streak and eight goals in just nine games this season. Impressively, all eight of his tallies have come on the power play, providing a significant boost to Montreal’s man-advantage unit.

Acquired from Columbus in a summer trade, Laine’s arrival has revitalized Montreal’s attack. His ability to score from anywhere on the ice has drawn praise, as has his knack for delivering in crucial situations. The Finnish sniper, previously plagued by injuries with the Blue Jackets, is now fulfilling his potential with the Canadiens.

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Montembeault’s Steady Presence

Goaltender Sam Montembeault has been a rock for the Canadiens, starting nine consecutive games and playing a key role in their recent success. Back-to-back victories over the Detroit Red Wings showcased his resilience, earning the admiration of teammates like Juraj Slafkovsky.

“It’s nice when you know that you have a goalie like that behind your back,” Slafkovsky said. “He’s a great goalie, and he can do that.”

Montreal will need Montembeault to maintain his form as they embark on a challenging six-game road trip, their longest of the season.

Blue Jackets Searching for Stability

The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, are desperate to turn things around after losing six of their last seven games (1-3-3). A 5-4 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday exemplified their struggles, as they squandered a 2-0 lead through two periods.

“We played the game hard,” Columbus coach Dean Evason said. “We maybe ran out of a bit of steam at the end and made a couple mistakes they capitalized on.”

Despite their recent struggles, the Blue Jackets have been solid at home with a 9-4-3 record at Nationwide Arena. Scoring hasn’t been an issue, led by winger Kirill Marchenko, who has recorded points in five straight games and has an impressive 34 points in 34 games this season.

Defensive Woes Plague Columbus

The Blue Jackets rank second-to-last in the NHL in goals against per game (3.62) and have conceded at least four goals in seven of their last 10 games. Addressing these defensive lapses will be crucial if they hope to contend with a Canadiens team riding high on confidence.

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Dominance in the Matchup

Montreal has dominated the head-to-head series, winning each of the past seven meetings by a combined margin of 31-12. The Canadiens have already secured two victories against the Blue Jackets this season, and another win would solidify their recent resurgence.

Outlook

With Montreal’s offense firing on all cylinders and Montembeault in net, the Canadiens appear well-positioned to continue their winning ways. However, the Blue Jackets’ strong home record and motivation to snap out of their slump could make this an intriguing contest. Expect a battle between two Eastern Conference teams looking to make a statement as the calendar year winds down.