Blue Jackets forward Justin Danforth is out with a concussion after a collision with Corey Perry. Carson Meyer replaces him in the lineup. Pascal Vincent confirms Danforth's injury and Meyer's role. Cayden Primeau starts for the Canadiens against Columbus. Danforth's absence allows AHL standouts Trey Fix-Wolansky and Carson Meyer to play. Brendan Gaunce is added to the Blue Jackets' roster on an emergency recall. Kirill Marchenko is out due to illness, replaced by Gaunce. Elvis Merzlikins starts in goal for Columbus. Montreal leads 3-0 against Columbus despite being outshot. Primeau makes key saves for the Canadiens. Tarasov replaces Merzlikins in goal for Columbus. Gaunce and Kuraly engage in roughing. Montreal's Roy scores, leading to a goalie change for Columbus. Primeau impresses with multiple saves. Columbus struggles on the power play. Montreal leads 3-0 after the first period.
Fix-Wolansky now getting a chance with Sillinger/Texier. #CBJ
Looks like Alex Nylander is the first choice to move up with play with Gaudreau/Jenner with Chinakhov out. Voronkov has skated a few shifts with Texier/Sillinger. Everything else a bit of a mishmash at this point. #CBJ
That bodycheck by #Habs Arber Xhekaj will be on highlight reels tonight. #HabsIO
#CBJ trail Montreal 3-0 on the scoreboard despite outshooting the Canadiens 22-8 after 20 minutes of play.
One goalie was ready at the start of the game. The other was not. 3-0 #GoHabsGo after one period.
End of one in Montreal and the #CBJ are in trouble, down 3-0 despite a 22-8 edge in shots. They'll have :19 of 4v3 PP time to start the third, then 1:24 of 5v4.
#GoHabsGo Buhle called for tripping with 17.9 seconds remaining. #CBJ getting a 4-on-3 power play now late in the first period.
Cayden Primeau stopped all 22 shots he faced in the first period. Canadiens go to intermission up 3-0.
Guhle off for tripping Jenner with 17.9 left 1st, #GoHabsGo up 3-0 on #CBJ ... third PP of the game for the Jackets (0/2).
Montreal defenseman Arber Xhekaj just put a sharp angle shot on Tarasov that got caught in his gear. When Tarasov got up, the puck was right on the goal line. Looks like they're checking but it's not a goal. #CBJ
Kuraly and Gallagher off for roughing, late 1st ... 4v4 with #GoHabsGo leading #CBJ 3-0.
#CBJ Sean Kuraly and #GoHabsGo Gallagher drop the mitts and wrestle after Gallagher takes some extra swipes at Tarasov after a save.
Kuraly goes off for roughing on that one, giving #GoHabsGo a late PP with 1:41 left 1st and leading #CBJ 3-0.
#CBJ have a 17-7 edge in shots with 2 mins left 1st, but not many from high-danger areas and Primeau has made big stops on the few HD chances they have generated. That's essentially the difference in the 3-0 score favoring #GoHabsGo
Shots on goal are 15-6 #CBJ but it’s Montreal up 3-0. Hockey, man…
Column I wrote earlier today on Cayden Primeau embracing his new opportunity with Canadiens following trade of Jake Allen to New Jersey Devils. #Habs #HabsIO: https://t.co/YZwIA5tpil
Dmitri Voronkov gets behind the defense on a #CBJ power play — great feed from Sillinger — but he draws iron behind Primeau. The Habs goalie then makes a great rebound save on Severson later in the power play.
#Habs Cayden Primeau looked like he had a new jump in his step walking around locker room after practice yesterday following trade of Jake Allen. That has continued into his crease tonight, stopping all 15 shots by Columbus with 8:25 still left in first period. #HabsIO
#CBJ Voronkov gets behind #GoHabsGo defense, but can't bury.
Take a bow, Cayden Primeau (@cpreems29)! 🤯 He just took away a sure goal. https://t.co/hXQdKr03GW
Second #CBJ PP better than the first, by quite a bit, but no goals. They're still down 3-0 to #GoHabsGo
Blue Jackets are outshooting #Habs 10-4 and are losing 3-0 midway through first period. #HabsIO
Struble called for holding the stick, giving #CBJ a PP at 6:16 of the first, down 3-0 in Montreal. #GoHabsGo
Joshua Roy redirects the puck past Merzlikins to make it a 3-0 Montreal lead 5:48 in. Tarasov comes in to replace Merzlikins for #CBJ.
#GoHabsGo push the lead to 3-0. Roy sails one in from high in the zone. Tarasov is coming into the game for Columbus, only 5:48 into the game. Merzlikins allowed three goals on four shots. Quick math: .250 save percentage.
3-0 Montreal on a weird one. A blast from the point bounces in off Merzlikins after hitting the post. Joshua Roy getting credit. #CBJ making a goalie change just 5:48 into this one. Daniil Tarasov coming in after three goals on four shots against.
Merzlikins pulled at 5:48 of the 1st. I'm sure that'll go over well. Tarasov in the #CBJ net now, trailing #GoHabsGo 3-0.
Blue Jackets pulling goalie Elvis Merzlikins in favour of Danil Tarasov after allowing three goals on four shots. Bell Centre DJ playing "Please Don't Go". #Habs #HabsIO
3-0 Montreal on a weird one. A blast from the point bounces in off Merzlikins after hitting the post. Joshua Rooy getting credit. #CBJ making a goalie chance just 5:48 into this one. Daniil Tarasov coming in after three goals on four shots against.
3-0 #GoHabsGo Joshua Roy at 5:48 ... my goodness. The #CBJ haven't had a start this poor in quite some time.
And make it 3-0 for #Habs over Blue Jackets as Joshua Roy deflects in an Arber Xhekaj point blast. There's still 14:12 left in first period. #HabsIO
#CBJ Alexandre Texier robbed of a goal by a Cayden Primeau lunging glove save.
Primeau just made one of the best saves we’ve seen all season on Texier. Wow. #CBJ
Primeau with a primo stop at the other end to keep it 2-0 #GoHabsGo over #CBJ
Just like after the first goal, #CBJ gets a glorious chance right after, but Cayden Primeau with an outstanding glove save to nab a rebound try by Alexandre Texier out of the air. Awesome save.
Cayden Primeau gives out a big rebound off the toe, snatches it away with his glove in recovery.
Cayden Primeau with a Carey Price-like glove save to keep #Habs ahead 2-0 #HabsIO
#CBJ Mathieu Olivier headed off for hooking. An offensive zone penalty at 2:56. #GoHabsGo to the power play.
And now a PK upcoming for #CBJ ... Olivier off for hooking at 2:56 with the Jackets down 1-0 early to #GoHabsGo
#CBJ forward Carson Meyer said he's played a lot in Cleveland with Brendan Gaunce. They're together tonight here in Montreal. Just had some offensive zone time on the first shift, but Olivier takes a hooking penalty. Jackets to the PK down 1-0.
Boone Jenner all alone in front has a chance to get the goal back but fires over the net. Action-packed first minute here in Montreal. #CBJ
Hockey is happening from Montreal! #CBJ
Puck has dropped between #CBJ and the Canadiens in Montreal. Merzlikins vs. Primeau.
Merzlikins to the left, Primeau to the right, and #CBJ hockey is under way in Quebec.
#CBJ starters: Texier - Sillinger - Nylander; Werenski - Boqvist; Merzlikins. Merzlikins first start in 10 days. Fix-Wolansky, Meyer and Gaunce all dressed. Former #CBJ Josh Anderson and David Savard are in the #GoHabsGo starting lineup. Caden Primeau gets the start in nets.
Without Marchenko tonight, the #CBJ forward lineup vs #GoHabsGo is 25% @monstershockey
#CBJ Kirill Marchenko (illness) is out tonight vs. #GoHabsGo. Brendan Gaunce will take his spot in the lineup.
Gaunce out there with #CBJ for warmup tonight in Montreal. No Marchenko (illness).
#CBJ on the ice for warmups in Montreal. Don’t see Kirill Marchenko so it looks like Brendan Gaunce goes in.
My column on Canadiens goalie Cayden Primeau embracing his new challenge as Samuel Montembeault's undisputed backup following the trade of Jake Allen to New Jersey Devils. Primeau gets the start tonight at Bell Centre against Columbus Blue Jackets #HabsIO: https://t.co/YZwIA5tpil
As Pascal Vincent noted earlier, Marchenko will be a game-time decision with illness. Brendan Gaunce goes in if Kirill can't play. Elvis gets the net. #CBJ https://t.co/hQYTh0rFLc
Also, Merzlikins in net tonight for #CBJ @ #GoHabsGo
Gaunce recalled from @monstershockey as an option in case Marchenko, who is feeling under the weather, can’t go. Game time decision. Fix-Wolansky and Meyer are both playing vs #GoHabsGo tonight @CentreBell
#CBJ have recalled F Brendan Gaunce on an emergency basis from @monstershockey. Also, with Malcolm Subban now with AHL Cleveland, G Pavel Cajan has been loaned to ECHL Cincinnati.
TRANSACTION: #CBJ have added forward Brendan Gaunce to the roster on emergency recall from @monstershockey. https://t.co/sjSzBOwbis
The Athletic: Trade, injuries give Blue Jackets a chance to see AHL standouts Trey Fix-Wolansky and Carson Meyer at NHL level. #CBJ https://t.co/ozhQOOQnlm
I'm filling in for @BrianHedger for part of this week on the #CBJ beat. Here's my story on Powell native Carson Meyer, who's a new dad, getting another shot with the Blue Jackets with Justin Danforth out with a concussion. https://t.co/ydFot9L7j4
It’s a moment Cayden Primeau has awaited patiently for, one he wants to use as a first step toward the starter’s role, and one he willed it into existence by taking ownership of his own development. @EricEngels has the story from Montreal. https://t.co/OK3LBaYEFB
#CBJ F Carson Meyer is a 20-minute-per-night player in Cleveland. Counted on to score and do it all. With the Jackets, he'll be an energy guy with Kuraly and Olivier. Does his game change? "I feel like i can use a little bit more of my engine." Less ice time, can go harder.
#CBJ Pascal Vincent confirmed that Justin Danforth suffered a concussion vs. #LetsGoOilers. Only timetable offered: “not day to day.” Powell, Ohio’s Carson Meyer, up from @monstershockey, will take Danforth’s spot on a line w Sean Kuraly and Mathieu Olivier.
Always good to see Powell native Carson Meyer back with the #CBJ. Career-high 22 goals w/ @monstershockey. Plays big minutes in CLE, hopes to add energy here. But the biggest news for him? He's a dad now. Son Charles is nine weeks old. "Good game, bad game, just move on and go…
Always good to see Powell native Carson Meyer back with the #CBJ. Career highs of 22 goals w/ @monstershockey. Plays big minutes in CLE, hopes to add energy here. But the biggest news for him? He's a dad now. Son Charles is nine weeks old. "Good game, bad game, just move on and…
Always good to see Powell native Carson Meyer back with the #CBJ. A career-highs of 22 goals w/ @monstershockey. Plays big minutes in CLE, hopes to add energy here. But the biggest news for him? He's a dad now. Son Charles is nine weeks old. "Good game, bad game, just move on…
#CBJ coach Pascal Vincent said Justin Danforth has a concussion and is out longer than day-to-day. Carson Meyer expected to go in to play tomorrow at Montreal.
Cayden Primeau will start in goal for #Habs tomorrow night vs Columbus #HabsIO
Doesn’t look like any changes afoot in the #CBJ lineup from Saturday other than Carson Meyer slotting in with Kuraly/Olivier. Pascal Vincent said the other day that Elvis Merzlikins likely gets the start in Montreal tomorrow night.
Justin Danforth not at #CBJ practice but Carson Meyer has reported for duty ahead of the team’s trip this afternoon to Montreal.
#CBJ Justin Danforth not at practice after missing Saturday’s game vs. #Preds. Remember the collision w #LetsGoOilers Corey Perry, #CBJ Sean Kuraly and Danforth last Thursday? Apparently Danforth was injured then. Hope for an update from coach Pascal Vincent after practice.