Laine scores twice, Blue Jackets send Canadiens to 6th straight defeat

MONTREAL — Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen admitted his side needed to be careful heading into Sunday's game against the Montreal Canadiens, which Columbus won 6-3.

The Canadiens had just been thumped 7-2 by the Edmonton Oilers the night before and Larsen knew his players needed to be wary.

“It was a little bit of a scary game,” he said. “The focus was on us and getting a good start. They got the early one but then from there I think we had a really good first period. Some good forecheck and obviously we were finishing, which is great."

Nick Suzuki scored first for Montreal but the Jackets responded with four goals within the first 13:14 of play – a franchise record.

Patrik Laine, with two, Jack Roslovic, Eric Robinson, Yegor Chinakhov and Cole Sillinger scored for the Blue Jackets (20-21-1). Joonas Korpisalo made 32 saves and Gustav Nyquist had two assists.

Columbus recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since Nov. 26.

Down 4-1 the Canadiens (8-29-7) attempted a comeback with goals from Artturi Lehkonen and Tyler Toffoli but a third-period goal from 18 year-old Sillinger quelled Montreal’s momentum.

“I got thrown out there with Boone (Jenner) and Patty (Laine),” Sillinger said. “I just saw an opening and that’s what we’re focusing on. It’s not passing up any opportunity, so I saw that opportunity and shot. It was nice to see that go in.”

Added Laine of Sillinger's goal: “It was great, we were playing short-handed for a minute and they were just running around and had a lot of chances. It was a big step back for Montreal and a huge goal for us. Cole, he did what he had to do to put it in the back of the net and give us a little bit of security.”

Larsen thought his young centreman had a slow start to the game but as