from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

It was a fantastic goalie matchup in Columbus on Wednesday night, and for two-and-a-half periods it looked like Sergei Bobrovsky would outduel Carey Price. But then the Montreal Canadiens exploded for three power-play goals -- two by Max Pacioretty, who now has 20 goals on the season -- and rallied for a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Price was once again outstanding as he bolstered his Hart and Vezina campaigns.

The Canadiens continue to prove people wrong and now sit just one point behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division, and the Habs have three games in hand.

For the Blue Jackets, this is a devastating loss. To be up 2-0 midway through the third period and lose like that could be a loss that deflates them. They had rallied hard since Dec. 1 to save their season, but with the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals on fire were unable to make up much ground in the Metropolitan Division, and barely any in the conference overall, either. Now 13 points back after Wednesday's loss, it might be time to start thinking about next year.

read on for Custance on the Wild, Burnside on the Kings and Strang on the Capitals...