MONTREAL

Savard's goal in 3rd lifts Canadiens over Blue Jackets 3-1

Nicole Kraft

Published Wednesday, November 23, 2022 10:38PM EST

Montreal Canadiens' Sam Montembeault, left, makes a save as teammate Arber Xhekaj, right, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier look for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

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COLUMBUS, OHIO -- David Savard scored the go-ahead goal against his former team early in the third period, sending the Montreal Canadiens past the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Wednesday night for their second comeback victory in three games.

Arber Xhekaj and Sean Monahan also had goals in the third for the Canadiens after the first two periods were scoreless. Sam Montembeault made 29 saves as Montreal avenged a road loss to Columbus six days earlier.

Mathieu Olivier scored for the Blue Jackets, and Joonas Korpisalo stopped 26 shots in his second consecutive loss. Columbus has dropped two of three, both at home.

Play was virtually even through two periods before Olivier picked off a weak Canadiens clearing pass and scored from the right circle at 1:08 of the third.

Xhekaj tied it 1:30 later when his shot from the blue line got past a screened Korpisalo. Savard made it 2-1 at 3:35 by burying a feed from Kirby Dach off the rush for his first goal of the season.

Monahan added an empty-netter at 18:07.