Coyle scores twice, Blue Jackets stay in playoff hunt with win over Canadiens

Boone Jenner, Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko — with an assist — also scored while Jet Greaves stopped 20 shots for Columbus (40-28-12), which is fighting to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Adam Fantilli added two assists.

The Blue Jackets sit outside the playoff picture, two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Cole Caufield — with his 51st of the season — and Josh Anderson replied for playoff-bound Montreal (47-23-10) two nights after Caufield scored his 50th in an electric 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jakub Dobes made 28 saves.

Defenceman Noah Dobson exited in the second period after blocking a Zach Werenski slap shot with his left hand. Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov also went to the dressing room in the third when he was hit headfirst into the boards by Werenski, but he returned later in the period.

Montreal (104 points) fell from second to third in the Atlantic Division behind Tampa Bay (104 points), which holds the regulation-wins tiebreaker over the Canadiens. The Buffalo Sabres lead the division at 106 points with two regular-season games remaining for all three teams.

The Blue Jackets jumped out to a 2-0 lead Saturday before the game was six minutes old.

Jenner got it started in just 73 seconds, sliding home a backhand. Coyle then doubled the lead at 5:42 when he finished off a tic-tac-toe play.

Anderson capitalized on a net-front pass from Jake Evans to respond at 11:48 in the first period, giving the Canadiens life until Marchenko ripped a shot over Dobes’ shoulder 1:24 into the second.

Monahan put the Blue Jackets ahead 4-1 at 10:36 in the middle frame after a turnover from defenceman Jayden Struble.

Caufield beat Greaves from a sharp angle on the power play 3:58 into the third period, but Coyle restored the Blue Jackets’ three-goal lead on the man advantage at 9:59.

Blue Jackets: On top of the early goals, Columbus registered eight shots just 3:18 into the game, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.

Canadiens: Will hope Dobson’s injury is not severe with the playoffs starting in one week.

Marchenko set up Coyle for his second of the night to give Columbus a commanding 5-2 lead.

Montreal captain Nick Suzuki, with an assist on Caufield’s goal, moved within one point of becoming the first Canadien to hit 100 since Mats Naslund in 1985-86.

Blue Jackets: Host the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

Canadiens: Visit the New York Islanders on Sunday.