Surprising Blue Jackets pile up the wins, lead the NHL (Yahoo Sports)

When the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Montreal Canadiens two days before Christmas for the team's 12th consecutive win, the sell-out crowd at Nationwide Arena stayed put and cheered long past the final horn. Just a season removed from a last-place finish in the Metropolitan Division - coach John Tortorella called 2015-16 ''embarrassing'' - the Blue Jackets have hockey's best record fueled by a roster light on stars but deep in key contributors. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky led the way against the Canadiens on Friday, stopping 36 shots in a 2-1 victory, including two acrobatic blocks using the toe of his skate.