Canadiens vs Blue Jackets: Injury Crisis Meets Offensive Firepower

Canadiens vs Blue Jackets: A Tale of Two Teams in Flux

The NHL matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets on November 17, 2025, proved to be a microcosm of both teams' current trajectories. At Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets secured a narrow victory (-125 moneyline), but the real story unfolded beyond the final score—a dramatic collision of offensive firepower and defensive vulnerability.

The Canadiens entered this contest as underdogs (+105) despite their superior conference standings, largely due to a devastating injury crisis. Just three days prior, Montreal lost three key players: Alex Newhook (ankle), Kaiden Guhle (lower body), and Kirby Dach (foot)—all sidelined for multiple weeks. "Find me a team that's going through it worse than the Montreal Canadiens right now," noted analyst Greg Liodice. This decimation forced the Habs to rely heavily on stars Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, but couldn't prevent them from losing five of their last six games, including a 7-0 drubbing by the Dallas Stars.

Blue Jackets' Offensive Surge vs Defensive Woes

Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets showcased their offensive prowess despite inconsistencies. Kirill Marchenko continues his breakout season with 20 points in 18 games, while Dmitri Voronkov builds on his 47-point campaign from last year. This month, Columbus ranks eighth in the NHL for 5-on-5 expected goals-for percentage (54.8 xGF%), highlighting their dangerous attack.

Yet, defensive instability plagues the Jackets. They sport the fifth-worst goals-against rate in the league (2.92 xGA/60). Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins' performance remains a question mark despite a solid .908 save percentage. His 5.0 goals saved above average (GSAx) suggests improvement, but volatility persists.

Betting Angles and Predictions

Oddsmakers favored Columbus (-1.5 puck line at +170), citing their home-ice advantage and Montreal's depleted roster. The over/under set at 6.5 goals drew significant attention. Liodice emphasized the "perfect storm" for high scoring: "Montreal still has a lot of high-end scorers. And given Merzlikins' volatility and Columbus's poor defense... [along with] Montreal's abysmal goaltending." His prediction for the Over 6.5 (-105) proved astute, as eight of the Canadiens' last ten games had exceeded this threshold.

Unless it's pretty clear-cut, I typically try to avoid doing the over on 6.5 goals, but this seems like a perfect storm. I think it's truly worth taking a flier on. Pick: Over 6.5 (-105)

— Greg Liodice, Action Network

Key Player Battles

Several individual matchups defined the game:

• Nick Suzuki vs. Columbus Defense: Suzuki's 1.2 points-per-game pace (21 points in 18 games) puts immense pressure on Columbus's injury-riddled blueline, missing Erik Gudbranson and Boone Jenner.
• Samuel Montembeault vs. Offense: With a league-worst .858 save percentage, Montembeault faced relentless pressure. Backup Jakub Dobes (.901 SV%) may see increased minutes moving forward.
• Kirill Marchenko vs. Montreal PK: The Canadiens' penalty kill (84% success) tested Marchenko's ability to generate offense in tight situations.

How to Watch and What's Next

The game broadcast live on ESPN+, a crucial platform for hockey fans. For those seeking tickets, StubHub offered real-time inventory as both teams jockey for playoff positioning.

Looking ahead, Montreal's depth crisis could worsen if injuries persist, while Columbus must shore up its defense to capitalize on its strong offense. As Liodice warned, "[Montreal] is still early in the season," but their rapid fall from first place in the Atlantic Division signals turbulent times ahead.

Final Thoughts

The Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets matchup encapsulated NHL unpredictability—a resilient underdog challenge against a flawed but potent home team. With injuries reshaping rosters and analytics driving betting markets, this game exemplified the league's constant evolution. For fans, it was a showcase of individual brilliance amid collective instability, setting the stage for an intriguing second half of the season.