Laine scores in dying seconds to lift Blue Jackets to win over Canadiens

Patrik Laine scored a power-play goal with 6.5 seconds left in regulation and the Columbus Blue Jackets escaped Montreal with a 2-1 win over the Canadiens.

Oliver Bjorkstad had the first goal for Columbus (23-22-1) just 76 seconds into the game and Elvis Merzlikins made 30 saves for the win.

Cole Caufield replied for Montreal (8-32-7) early in the third period with his third goal of the season.

Samuel Montembeault had a busy day at the office, blocking 37-of-38 shots for the Canadiens.

It was the Blue Jackets' second victory at the Bell Centre in 14 days, extending their win streak to five games and six in their last seven.

The Habs slumped to a nine-game winless streak and Montreal is 0-2-0 under newly minted head coach Martin St. Louis.

St. Louis, 46, was facing the team he'd previously worked for as a special teams consultant in 2018-19.

Columbus were wide awake for the matinee game, scoring only 1:16 in.

There goes our hero