Columbus Blue Jackets Shut Out by Montreal Canadiens: A Missed Opportunity at Bell Centre?
The Columbus Blue Jackets, with a record of 0-1, faced off against the Montreal Canadiens, who now boast a 1-0 record after the game. The final score read 3-0 in favor of the home team at Bell Centre.
In an intense matchup at the Bell Centre, the Blue Jackets were unable to find the back of the net despite firing off a substantial 41 shots. The Canadiens' goaltender delivered an impeccable performance with a save percentage of one hundred percent, turning away all attempts by Columbus. The Blue Jackets dominated faceoffs with a fifty-three percent win rate but struggled on power plays where they failed to capitalize on any of their four opportunities.
The Canadiens' offense made significant strides in their first period scoring all three goals which set them up for victory. Their shooting accuracy was notable with thirteen percent of their shots resulting in goals. They also had success on power plays scoring once out of three chances and maintained control during penalty kills as evidenced by their sixty-two percent faceoff win rate when shorthanded.
Columbus's defense managed to block seven shots and delivered sixteen hits throughout the game but ended up with a minus ten plus-minus rating overall. In contrast, Montreal blocked thirty-two shots and recorded eighteen hits contributing to their positive plus-minus rating.
The goaltending for Columbus showed resilience despite allowing three goals; they made twenty saves against twenty-three shots faced during even strength play. However, it wasn't enough to counteract the offensive pressure from Montreal who found ways to breach through Columbus's defenses early on.
Looking ahead for fans of Columbus Blue Jackets, they can mark their calendars for an upcoming game against Ottawa Senators scheduled at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 14th at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. This match will be available for viewing on ESPN+ via internet streaming and BSOH television network.