Kirill Marchenko Goal: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Montréal Canadiens (04/11/2026)
- The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 at the Bell Centre on April 11, 2026, keeping their hopes for a Stanley Cup Playoff berth alive.
- Charlie Coyle led the effort for Columbus with two goals, including a power-play goal in the third period.
- Boone Jenner scored the first goal of the game 1:13 into the contest, followed by a goal from Charlie Coyle at 5:42 to make the score 2-0.
The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 at the Bell Centre on April 11, 2026, keeping their hopes for a Stanley Cup Playoff berth alive.
Charlie Coyle led the effort for Columbus with two goals, including a power-play goal in the third period. The victory marks the second time the Blue Jackets have won in their previous nine games.
Game Progression and Scoring
Columbus established an early lead in the first period. Boone Jenner scored the first goal of the game 1:13 into the contest, followed by a goal from Charlie Coyle at 5:42 to make the score 2-0.
Montreal reduced the lead to 2-1 in the first period when Josh Anderson scored off a pass from Jake Evans.
The Blue Jackets extended their lead in the second period. Kirill Marchenko scored early in the frame to re-establish a two-goal advantage and Sean Monahan added another goal midway through the period to make it 4-1.
In the third period, Cole Caufield scored on a power play to bring the score to 4-2, marking his 51st goal of the season. Columbus responded at 9:59 of the third period when Charlie Coyle scored his second goal of the night on a power play, assisted by a feed from Marchenko, to finalize the score at 5-2.
Player and Coaching Performance
Goaltender Jet Greaves earned the win for Columbus after making 20 saves. Jakub Dobes took the loss for Montreal with 28 saves.
Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness credited the team’s veterans and defensive solidity for the result. He noted that the team spent significant time in the Montreal zone and created scoring opportunities through their forecheck.
Rick Bowness, Blue Jackets coach
We had a great first period tonight and you give our veterans a lot of credit. They came through when we needed them the most.
Boone Jenner described the performance as one of the team’s best 60-minute efforts since their previous visit to Montreal a few weeks prior, emphasizing the collective contribution of the lineup and special teams.
Playoff Implications and Standings
The win places the Columbus Blue Jackets at 92 points. They currently trail the Philadelphia Flyers, who have 94 points, by two points for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Columbus holds a one-point lead over both the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders. All four teams have two games remaining in the regular season.
The Philadelphia Flyers maintained their lead over Columbus by defeating the Winnipeg Jets 7-1 on the road on the same date.
Columbus is scheduled to play their final two games at home at Nationwide Arena, facing the Boston Bruins on April 12 and concluding the season against the Washington Capitals on April 15.