Blue Jackets 3 - 2 Canadiens
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Columbus takes down Montreal in shootout

Dec 7, 2011 - 3:55 AM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Rick Nash scored in the second round of the shootout to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Montreal Canadiens, 3-2.

R.J. Umberger had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who went 2-2-0 on a four-game road trip. Vinny Prospal also lit the lamp.

Curtis Sanford made 18 saves for the victors.

Andrei Kostitsyn and Brian Gionta scored for the Canadiens, who have lost five of six. Carey Price turned aside 26-of-28 shots.

Down 2-1 late in regulation, Price started to make his way to the bench for an extra attacker. Tomas Plekanec carried the puck down the right wing before throwing it out front. The disc hit off the skate of Columbus defenseman James Wisniewski and went to Gionta, who jammed the puck past Sanford with 1:21 left.

"We had some chances but unfortunately a bounce off our guy went right to Gionta for the tying goal," Umberger said. "Some plays like that you can't help."

In the second round of the shootout, Nash made a nice move before putting the puck past Price. Sanford then stopped Gionta's backhander to seal the victory.

The Blue Jackets drew first blood just 2:03 into the game. Aaron Johnson carried the puck down the right wing before putting a backhander on goal. The rebound bounced in front to Prospal, who put the puck into the back of the net.

It seemed like Columbus was going to head into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead, but that changed with 1.5 seconds to go. Michael Cammalleri stole the puck at the blue line and passed to Kostitsyn, whose wrister from the high slot beat Sanford.

Umberger gave the Blue Jackets the lead again at the 11:14 mark of the middle stanza. Nikita Nikitin carried the puck down the left wing before beating Price with a shot from the bottom of the circle.

"Anytime the puck carrier got in [the zone] he was all by himself," Gionta said.

Game Notes

The Blue Jackets have won four of the past five meetings between the teams... The Canadiens went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Columbus went 0-for-4 on the man advantage...Habs forward Max Pacioretty returned from a three-game suspension.






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