After alternating wins and a loss in their previous three games, the Montreal Canadiens took to the ice for an important contest at home on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Important, because a win would actually push the home team ahead of Toronto in the Atlantic division, while the visitors were looking to start climbing out of the basement of the Eastern conference.
After a close call against the lowly Los Angeles Kings in their previous outing, the Habs needed to put forth a more convincing effort against a statistically inferior team.