By Canadian Press

Caufield scores OT winner as Canadiens complete 4-3 comeback win over Blue Jackets

Oct 26, 2023 | 8:09 PM

MONTREAL — Cole Caufield scored the overtime winner as the Montreal Canadiens completed a 4-3 comeback win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

Caufield, who also had two assists, beat Elvis Merzlikins short-side with a wrist shot with 43 seconds left in the extra session.

Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists and Mike Matheson had a goal and an assist for Montreal (4-2-1). Sean Monahan also scored and Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault stopped 31 shots.

Emil Bemstrom scored two power-play goals and Jack Roslovic pitched in a goal and two assists for Columbus (3-3-1). Elvis Merzlikins made 23 saves.

Blue Jackets centre Adam Fantilli, the No. 3 overall pick in last June’s draft, was held off the scoresheet after entering the game with goals in back-to-back games. 

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The 19-year-old from Nobleton, Ont., became the third freshman to win the Hobey Baker award as the top player in U.S. college hockey with 65 points in 36 games for the University of Michigan last season.

Columbus went 2-for-4 on the power play. Montreal was 2-for-5.

Tied 3-3 with under a minute remaining in the third period, Canadiens veteran Brendan Gallagher took a high-sticking penalty to put Montreal down a man to end the third period and into overtime.

Despite numerous opportunities from the Blue Jackets, the Canadiens managed to kill the penalty before Caufield notched the winner. 

Monahan had deflected a Caufield pass into the back of the net on the power play midway through the third period to even the score.

The 29-year-old Monahan nearly added another to put Montreal ahead with seven minutes left, but Merzlikins turned away his shot from the slot.

Merzlikins shut the door again a minute later with back-to-back breakaway saves on Josh Anderson and Caufield to keep the game tied.

Columbus opened the scoring two minutes 46 seconds into the game when star forward Johnny Gaudreau found Roslovic in front of the net for a tap-in.

Bemstrom doubled the Blue Jackets lead late in a chippy first period by shooting a one-timer past Montembeault with the man-advantage.

Suzuki replied 27 seconds into the second period to cut Montreal’s deficit in half and bring the Bell Centre to life. 

The Canadiens captain capitalized on an own-zone turnover by Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner before rifling a wrist shot past Merzlikins for his first of the season.

Bemstrom then broke through with his second for Columbus, finishing off a feed from Roslovic at the side of the net after he danced through the Canadiens defence.

Montreal got some good fortune as the officials called a penalty on Columbus moments after a clearcut slash by Canadiens centre Sean Monahan went unpenalized.

Matheson took advantage with a top-corner wrist shot on the power play to make it 3-2 heading into the third.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW

Columbus forward Dmitri Voronkov made his NHL debut, drawing into the lineup in place of centre Kent Johnson, who was a healthy scratch.

The 23-year-old Voronkov is a six-foot-five 240-pounder from Russia. He quickly made an impression with a hit-from-behind on Canadiens tough guy Arber Xhekaj, leading to a fight between the two players.

Voronkov later added an assist on Bemstrom’s second goal for his first NHL point.

GUHLE NEARS RETURN

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said Thursday morning that defenceman Kaiden Guhle is close to a return after being a full participant in the team’s morning skate.

Guhle has missed four games since leaving a game on Oct. 17 against the Minnesota Wild with an upper-body injury.

The 21-year-old averaged over 20 minutes 30 seconds of ice-time as a rookie last season and would be a welcome return to the lineup with veteran defenceman David Savard out six to eight weeks.

UP NEXT

Montreal: Hosts the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday to complete a three-game homestand.

Columbus: Hosts the New York Islanders on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2023.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press