Final, Bruins 3-2 (1-0 in shootout): The Bruins get the two points they sought as Tyler Seguin scores the only goal in the shootout.
Tuukka Rask stopped all three Columbus attempts, denying Rick Nash's backhander, outwaiting Fedor Tyutin and forcing Scottie Upshall's shot high.
Seguin scored on Boston's first attempt with a slick forehand move, slipping the puck past Steve Mason at the right post. Patrice Bergeron also appeared to beat Mason 5-hole, but the Blue Jackets netminder stopped it with the back of his leg.
It took some extra time, but the Bruins end their season-long four-game losing streak and with Montreal losing to Washington 4-2, Boston extends its lead in the Northeast Division to four points. The Bruins will continue their road trip Thursday in Nashville.
End Overtime, 2-2: No lack of chances for both sides, but no scoring in OT as this one heads to a shootout.
Overtime, 3:58, 2-2: Tomas Kaberle with the save of the night, keeping the puck out behind Rask as it appeared this one was going to be over.
Overtime, 3:11, 2-2: Chara in deep and tries to stuff the backhander in at the left post, but Mason makes the stop.
Overtime, 2:15, 2-2: The Bruins ice it now, after Nash had a chance going 1 on 1 with Seidenberg, but the Bruins defenseman breaks up the play. Much better OT moment for Seidenberg than his last one against Pittsburgh.
Overtime, 0:41, 2-2: The Blue Jackets use their timeout as the Bruins threaten early with Krejci, Lucic and Kaberle combined for a serious threat, and Columbus is forced to ice the puck.
Overtime, 0:00, 2-2: The five-minute, 4-on-4 extra session is under way in Columbus.
End Regulation, 2-2: This one is headed to overtime. The Bruins have earned at least a point, and can thank Rask for that, but could really use the second point.
Third Period, 18:32, 2-2: Rask putting on a clinic here, but the Bruins defense is leaving him out to dry way too much. Rask robs Brassard at the right post on the latest bid.
Third Period, 17:24, 2-2: The Bruins kill off another penalty, with Chara blocking a Nash shot from the right side and Rask denying Jakub Voracek as Voracek broke his stick trying to jam it home at the right post.
Third Period, 15:24, 2-2: The Bruins killed off the rest of Horton's penalty, but now are shorthanded again as David Krejci is called for cross-checking Sami Lepisto.
Third Period, 14:24, 2-2: The Bruins pull even on a spectacular individual effort by Rich Peverley.
Peverley intercepted a drop pass by Derick Brassard in the Bruins' zone, then went end to end, driving to the net at the left post and slipping the puck under Mason for a shorthanded goal to tie it.
Third Period, 13:06, Blue Jackets 2-1: The Bruins now are shorthanded as Nathan Horton is called for holding the stick.
Third Period, 12:19, Blue Jackets 2-1: Columbus retakes the lead after yet another turnover in the defensive zone by the Bruins.
Seidenberg coughed up the puck trying to carry it out at the blue line. Rask was able to make the initial save on the ensuing chance at the left post, but it carried him out of the net and Scottie Upshall put the second chance into the empty cage.
Third Period, 9:35, 1-1: Rask with his best save of the night as Paille coughs the puck up out front to Derek Dorsett all alone in slot, but Rask makes the stop and ties up the puck.
Third Period, 7:18, 1-1: Rask denies Derick Brassard on a midair tip at the right point as the Blue Jackets mount some pressure in return.
Third Period, 5:38, 1-1: The Bruins' fourth line with some pressure here with Thornton almost setting up Campbell in front, then Paille tipping one just wide.
Third Period, 0:51, 1-1: The Bruins kill off the rest of the penalty, with McQuaid and Bergeron blocking shots and Rask coming up with another big save.
Third Period, 0:00, 1-1: The final frame is under way, with the Bruins looking to kill off the rest of Dennis Seidenberg's tripping penalty as they start the third period shorthanded.
Also, Chara's goal has now been credited to David Krejci, who apparently got a piece of it as he supplied the screen in front.
Second Intermission Notes: Much better effort from the Bruins in the second after a lackluster opening period, and it was rewarded as Zdeno Chara scored for the second straight game to even the score.
There's still plenty of work to do, as Columbus holds a 23-17 edge in shots (11-7 in second) and a 24-13 advantage in hits. the Bruins do continue to dominate on draws, winning 18 of 30 so far (60 percent). Tyler Seguin is 2-0 on faceoffs, but the rookie has otherwise been pretty quiet in his return to the lineup with no points, no shots and no hits in 7:36.
Brad Marchand has been far more active. After being benched in the third period on Friday, the slumping youngster has responded well with a solid game, creating scoring chances and getting under the skin of the Blue Jackets. he has three shots and a hit in 9:35, and his shift midway through the second that featured a hit on R.J. Umberger at center ice, a scoring bid at the left post and a scrum behind the net appeared to wake up the Bruins when they needed it most, with Chara scoring less than a minute later.
End Second Period, 1-1: The first 40 minutes are in the books, but nothing has been settled as the second period ends with the game deadlocked at 1-1.
Second Period, 18:49, 1-1: The Bruins face a big penalty kill here late in the period with Dennis Seidenberg called for tripping.
Second Period, 17:58, 1-1: The action is remaining fast and furious here, with Nathan Horton having a chance in front, Johnny Boychuk driving the net for a bid and Derick Brassard answering with a chance for Columbus. It's also getting nasty, with McQuaid and Rick Nash in a brief shoving match.
Second Period, 14:37, 1-1: Much better jump for the Bruins since Marchand started stirring the pot and Chara got them on the board. The Bergeron line with Peverley and Marchand created several more scoring chances on that last shift as momentum is now swinging Boston's way.
Second Period, 12:20, 1-1: The Bruins tie it up as Zdeno Chara blasts one home from the left point.
Johnny Boychuk and Milan Lucic get the assists, but it was David Krejci who supplied the screen in front to help block Mason's view of the puck. That's two straight games with goals for Chara.
Second Period, 11:53, Blue Jackets 1-0: Eventful shift for Brad Marchand, who hits Umberger at center ice, gets a scoring chance at the left post and then starts a scrum behind the net. the Bruins need some sort of energy to get things going, so let's see if they respond to Marchand trying to get things going.
Second Period, 8:56, Blue Jackets 1-0: The Blue Jackets are beating the Bruins to too many pucks. Boston is struggling to keep up with Columbus' speed, which just produced a chance down the left wing by Rick Nash.
Second Period, 5:45, Blue Jackets 1-0: The Bruins kill off that penalty, with Rask coming up with one big save late to keep it a one-goal game.
Second Period, 3:45, Blue Jackets 1-0: The Bruins have another penalty to kill as Shawn Thornton is called for a debatable holding call.
Second Period, 1:47, Blue Jackets 1-0: Samuel Pahlsson answers back for Columbus with a shot that rings off the post at the other end.
Second Period, 1:32, Blue Jackets 1-0: Mark Recchi is robbed at the right post by a Mason pad save after a give and go with Chris Kelly.
Second Period, 0:00, Blue Jackets 1-0: The middle frame is under way, with the Bruins looking to dig out of this one-goal hole.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins survived Columbus' early surge in the opening minutes, but the Blue Jackets converted late for the only goal of the game so far.
Tyler Seguin hasn't done much yet to show he deserves to stay in the lineup with Michael Ryder the healthy scratch in this one. Seguin played just 3:10 over three shifts and wasn't particularly noticeable in those brief chances.
Adam McQuaid does have three blocked shots already against the team that originally drafted him, but Columbus still has a 12-10 edge in shots and a 10-7 advantage in hits. The Bruins have already committed two bad penalties, taking a too many men call less than a minute in and Patrice Bergeron negated Boston's only power play just five seconds in with an interference penalty.
End First Period, Blue Jackets 1-0: The Bruins will head into the first intermission down by a goal after Columbus struck late in the opening frame.
First Period, 19:07, Blue Jackets 1-0: The Blue Jackets strike first, with defenseman Grant Clitsome beating Rask with a shot from the point that slipped through traffic in front.
First Period, 18:03, 0-0: The Bruins have settled things down and begun to counterattack a bit more after a slow start. Rich Peverley with a good bid from the right slot, but Mason makes the stop.
First Period, 14:22, 0-0: Thornton gets a chance off a feed by Daniel Paille after a R.J. Umberger giveaway, but Thornton's bid goes wide.
First Period, 12:43, 0-0: The sides are back to even strength with both penalties expired.
First Period, 10:43, 0-0: That Bruins' power play lasted all of five seconds as Bergeron is called for interference off the ensuing faceoff.
First Period, 10:38, 0-0: The Bruins' struggling power play gets its first opportunity of the night as Antoine Vermette is sent off for hooking. Nathan Horton had a golden chance in front before the call, but couldn't put it home as he lost control of the puck at the top of the crease with an open net in front of him.
First Period, 9:12, 0-0: The fourth line finally relieves the pressure a bit, with Shawn Thornton firing in a shot from the high slot. Dennis Seidenberg follows with a bid from the left boards that Mason has to tie up for the faceoff. The Bruins needed an energy shift from that line as they have been on their heels early.
First Period, 6:05, 0-0: Helped by the early power play, the Blue Jackets are outshooting the Bruins 7-1 so far in this one. Boston needs to get its offense going.
First Period, 2:57, 0-0: The Bruins kill off the penalty despite five shots already for Columbus. Rask getting a workout early in this one.
First Period, 0:57, 0-0: Not a good start for the Bruins, who get called for too many men less than a minute into play. The Bruins' penalty kill hasn't been much better than the power play lately, but it will have to come up big early here.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: And they're under way in Columbus, with the Bruins looking to put an end to their season-long four-game losing streak.
6:55 p.m.: In addition to Rask in goal, the Bruins will start this one with Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Rich Peverley up front and Tomas Kaberle and Adam McQuaid on defense.
Columbus counters with Rick Nash, Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek up front, Jan Hejda and Grant Clitsome on the blue line and Steve Mason in net.
6:40 p.m.: Tuukka Rask is officially starting, with Steve Mason in goal for Columbus.
And Michael Ryder is indeed a healthy scratch for the first time since coming to the Bruins three years ago.
Steven Kampfer back in on defense, Andrew Ference remains out.
6:30 p.m.: The Bruins' struggles on the power play have been well documented. Boston is just 2-28 on the man-advantage in 10 games with Tomas Kaberle, who was brought in to help improve the power play.
Columbus, meanwhile, was a perfect 9 for 9 on the penalty kill saturday against Carolina, killing off three separate 5-on-3 advantages, while former Bruin Samuel Pahlsson scored a shorthanded goal. Overall, the Blue Jackets are just 20th in the league on the PK (81.1 percent), while the Bruins are 20th on the power play (16.7 percent).
6 p.m.: The Bruins get back in action in about an hour, taking on the Blue Jackets in Columbus.
There could be some lineup changes if Claude Julien carries through on what he hinted at following the morning skate.
Tuukka Rask appears likely to start in goal after being the first netminder off the ice at the workout, while Tyler Seguin could return to the lineup after two straight healthy scratches. If he does though, it won't be Daniel Paille taking his spot in the press box.
Michael Ryder is the guy who could be in danger of being scratched. Julien didn't sound happy with the overall effort of the slimping veteran (1 goal in his last 14 games), and sitting Ryder would give Seguin a chance to play on more of a scoring line to show what he can do. Julien stated it will be a game-time decision on who which of the forwards sits.
Steven Kampfer will return on defense after missing four games with a concussion. Andrew Ference remains out with a lower-body injury.
8 a.m.: The Bruins have followed up a season-high seven-game win streak with a season-long four-game losing skid. They'll try to keep that from reaching five Tuesday night in Columbus against a team that knows all about streaky play.
The Bruins venture out of conference to take on the Blue Jackets and then visit Nashville on Thursday before wrapping up the trip against a more familiar foe in Toronto on Saturday.
"Both [Columbus and Nashville] are teams that grind it out," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "That's why it might not be a bad thing for us. We need to start grinding it out a bit more ourselves and competing harder. They come and play hard every night and when you beat those teams, they're not easy wins.
"They've had their streaks as well and they've had their tough times," Julien added. "It seems like there are a lot of teams in this league right now that go on these winning streaks, then they go on these losing streaks. Both of these teams have done that. Nashville has been up and down in the standings and Columbus, I think, they went on a 10-game winning streak and hardly made any ground in the standings. So it's been tough for them as well, but they're a pretty good team."
Columbus didn't quite win 10 straight, but it did go 8-1-1 in February, only to follow that up with a seven-game losing streak. The Blue Jackets finally snapped that with a 3-2 win at Carolina on Saturday. Now the Bruins will have to prevent the Blue Jackets from starting a streak in the opposite direction by winning their first game in Columbus since before the lockout. Boston's last road victory over the Blue Jackets was a 4-0 win on Nov. 14, 2003.
The Bruins have been very good on the road this year though, with a 22-9-4 record away from the Garden, while Columbus is just 16-14-3 at home. The Blue Jackets are 32-27-9 overall, 12th in the West with 73 points. That's eight points out of the final playoff spot. But they'd be ninth and just three points out if they played in the East, so the Bruins can't take them lightly.
Boston also has to worry about its own conference standings, as the Bruins' lead over Montreal in the Northeast Division has shrunk to two points. The Bruins do have a game in hand on the Habs, who host Washington on Tuesday.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
