Zach Werenski leads surging Jackets into matchup with Canadiens

Two teams looking to tighten their grasps on a playoff spot square off when the Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

The Blue Jackets (38-22-11, 87 points) have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as head coach on Jan. 12. They were 19-19-7 through 45 games at the time of the change. They've matched that win total in the 26 games since, going 19-3-4.

That has helped vault Columbus up the standings and, following...