Music: {allcanada} BLUE JACKETS (18-27-5) at CANADIENS (24-21-4)

Monday, January 25, 2016

{allcanada} BLUE JACKETS (18-27-5) at CANADIENS (24-21-4)

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Tuesday, January 26, 2016

7:30 PM ET

BLUE JACKETS (18-27-5) at CANADIENS (24-21-4)

TV: FS-O, RDS, SNE

Season series: The Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens have split two games. Columbus forward Cam Atkinson got his third NHL hat trick, and the Blue Jackets won 5-2 at Nationwide Arena on Monday to open the home-and-home, which concludes Tuesday with the final game before the All-Star break for each team. Montreal captain Max Pacioretty scored the game-winning goal with 2:09 left in a 2-1 victory at Bell Centre on Dec. 1.

Blue Jackets team scope: Columbus ended a three-game losing streak (0-2-1) with the win Monday. Brandon Dubinsky and Boone Jenner assisted on each of Atkinson's goals, and Brandon Saad scored twice. "It was good for the crowd, to win at home first of all and have some big efforts," associate coach Craig Hartsburg told the Blue Jackets website. "We need that shot of morale boost; it's been a tough grind for everyone, and they can feel good about this one. We have a big test tomorrow in Montreal, and we'll have to be a lot better." Hartsburg will fill in for coach John Tortorella for the third straight game. Tortorella, who broke two ribs in a fall after he collided with forward Rene Bourque during practice Friday, could return when the Blue Jackets play Feb. 2 at the Edmonton Oilers in their first game after the break.

Canadiens team scope: Montreal hasn't won in regulation since a 2-1 victory against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 6. After defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in a shootout Saturday, the Canadiens failed to win consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 25 and 27. "We've got to play better tomorrow," Montreal captain Max Pacioretty said. "We really need to play for 60 minutes and get the 'W' before we go into the break. Everyone's frustrated with the way tonight's game went." The Canadiens are 3-6-1 in January. Forward Daniel Carr is day-to-day with a lower-body injury he sustained in the first period against Columbus. Defenseman P.K. Subban played Monday despite missing the morning skate because of illness and had a goal and an assist; he has eight points (three goals) in his past eight games. The Canadiens' first game after the break is Feb. 2 at the Philadelphia Flyers.