Atkinson hat trick helps Blue Jackets defeat Canadiens

COLUMBUS --It appeared Cam Atkinson's chance to get his third NHL hat trick ended when Columbus Blue Jackets teammate Brandon Saad scored into an empty net with a little more than a minute left in the third period Monday.
But Atkinson got another chance and buried a goal-mouth feed from Brandon Dubinsky with 25 seconds remaining in a 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens at Nationwide Arena.

Dubinsky and Boone Jenner assisted on each of Atkinson's goal for Columbus (18-27-5), which won for the first time in four games.
Atkinson credited associate coach Craig Hartsburg, who subbed for coach John Tortorella while he continues to recover from two broken ribs, for putting them on the ice.
"It was nice [Hartsburg] threw our line out, and we made an odd-man rush," Atkinson said. "Right there, I was smiling the whole way because I knew at some point someone was going to try to get one."
Saad broke a 2-2 tie at 9:06 when he put in a rebound of a Justin Falk shot.
Saad then scored his 18th goal with 1:12 remaining after Montreal goaltender Mike Condon (20 saves) was pulled for the extra attacker. Atkinson's goal came with Condon back in net.
"We seem to find ways to lose those 1-1 games, 2-2, going into the third," Atkinson said. "We found a way to win. It was great to get the win in front our fans going into the (All-Star) break."
Somewhere in central Ohio, a dog might soon be named after Atkinson.
After siblings in a family held up a sign for Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan to score a goal Sunday against the New York Rangers so they could get a dog, Ryan scored.
On Monday, a young girl's sign at the Blue Jackets game read: "Dad said if 13 scores on my birthday we get a dog."
Atkinson, No. 13, obliged three times.
"I saw actually in the Ottawa game the sign for Bobby Ryan," said Atkinson, who also had a hat trick April 5, 2012, at the Colorado Avalanche and March 27, 2015, at the Chicago Blackhawks. "I just hope that little girl tonight names that dog after me."
Asked if he thinks she will get three dogs, Atkinson said, "I don't know. We'll see how generous her dad and mom are feeling."
Brendan Gallagher and P.K. Subban each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (24-21-5). Montreal, which ended a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 shootout victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, has not won consecutive games since Nov. 25 and 27.
"We just had bad execution again," Canadiens coach Michel Therrien. "We [allowed] three goals where we had the puck and we gave them the puck. It's unacceptable.
"I'm disappointed with the way that we execute when we have the puck. We turn pucks over. You're not going to win many games playing that way."
The second period ended 2-2 after an exchange of soft goals.
"I really felt going out in the third period it was our game," Subban said. "Those moments we lose the puck or lose our heads are costing us right now."
Atkinson scored at 2:52 on a backhand from the right faceoff dot that Condon stabbed at with his glove for the 2-1 lead.
Subban, who was a game-time decision because of illness but played his 255th consecutive regular-season game, scored his fourth goal on a slap shot from between the red and blue lines at 8:36 against rookie goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who made 32 saves.
"That should never happen. It's on me," Korpisalo said. "You've got to bounce back from that. The guys played really well in front of me."
Montreal went ahead 1-0 at 10:39 of the first period on Gallagher's first goal in eight games during a Canadiens power play when he banked a shot off Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson.
Atkinson tied it 4:01 later with his first of the night.
"It wasn't always pretty," Hartsburg said. "We weren't perfect. I thought tonight we stayed with it. We didn't crack. We made Montreal make some mistakes, which we capitalized on."
The good news for the Canadiens is they get another shot at the Blue Jackets in Montreal on Tuesday.
"We've got to play better tomorrow," Montreal captain Max Pacioretty said. "We really need to play for 60 minutes and get the 'W' before we go into the break. Everyone's frustrated with the way tonight's game went."
Canadiens left wing Daniel Carr did not return after leaving in the first period with a lower-body injury.