Canadiens edge Blue Jackets 2-1 at Bell Centre as Struble nets first of season
Montreal secures tight win in low-event game
The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Bell Centre, extending a late-season push in the Atlantic Division while tightening an already close race for playoff positioning.
After trading goals in the first period, Montreal broke the 1-1 deadlock with the only goal of the third period. The result left Columbus with a one-goal road loss despite holding an edge in shots and delivering a higher hit total.
How the scoring unfolded
Montreal opened the scoring at 9:54 of the first period when defenseman Jayden Struble scored on a snap shot for his first goal of the season. Zack Bolduc and Lane Hutson recorded the assists.
Columbus responded in the first period and carried a 1-1 score into the second intermission. With no scoring in the middle frame, the game turned on a third-period Canadiens goal that stood up as the winner in a 2-1 finish.
- Final score: Canadiens 2, Blue Jackets 1
- Shots on goal: Columbus 26, Montreal 20
- Hits: Columbus 27, Montreal 24
- Penalty minutes: Columbus 6, Montreal 4
Goaltending and special teams shaped the margin
Both goaltenders faced manageable volume in a game defined more by structure than sustained offensive-zone time. Columbus goalie Jet Greaves stopped 18 of 20 shots, while Montreal’s Jakub Dobes turned aside 25 of 26, limiting second-chance opportunities and preventing Columbus from turning a shot advantage into a multi-goal night.
Discipline also mattered in a game decided by a single goal. Montreal was assessed two minor penalties (four minutes), while Columbus took three minors (six minutes). A first-period holding call against Juraj Slafkovsky gave Columbus an early power-play chance, but Montreal’s penalty kill avoided damage.
What the numbers suggest about the game
Columbus finished with more shots and slightly fewer faceoff wins (48.9% to Montreal’s 51.1%), indicators of a game that remained balanced despite the Blue Jackets’ territorial stretches. Montreal’s ability to keep the contest at even strength, combined with efficient finishing on limited opportunities, proved decisive.
The season series between the teams remained split after the March 26 result, with their next meeting scheduled for April 11.
For Columbus, the outcome reinforced how narrow the margins can be in late March: a strong defensive effort and a shot advantage were not enough without an additional conversion. For Montreal, the win added two points built on goaltending, low-error hockey, and timely scoring from the back end.