Tyler Seguin was denied on Boston's first shot, but Rask stoned Rick Nash at the other end. Rich Peverley buried a forehand shot in the second round, but Mark Letestu answered for Columbus.
End Overtime, 1-1: And we've got ourselves a shootout. Neither team could convert their power-play chance in the OT and it remains deadlocked.
Overtime, 4:08, 1-1: The Bruins will finish overtime shorthanded as Andrew Ference is called for boarding in the final minute.
Overtime, 3:05, 1-1: Lots of chances for the Bruins on that power play, including a shot by Zdeno Chara that clanged off the post, but Boston cannot convert and the sides are back to even strength.
Overtime, 1:05, 1-1: Brad Marchand with the drive to the net to draw a slashing call on Antoine Vermette, and the Bruins will go on the power play in OT.
Overtime, 0:50, 1-1: The Bruins come right back with a chance of their own at the top of the crease, but Chris Kelly is stoned by Mason.
Overtime, 0:35, 1-1: Rask makes a pair of saves in close as Columbus threatens from the top of the crease.
End Regulation 1-1: This one will go to overtime with it deadlocked at 1-1.
Third Period, 19:27, 1-1: A wild scene in the final minute with a Bruins odd-man rush leading to a pop-up. Krejci and Sanford collide and the puck nearly squirts in, but the play is blown dead for the contact with the goalie. No penalty though.
Third Period, 18:16, 1-1: The Bruins threaten late as Bergeron sets up Seguin for a one-timer from the left wing, but Sanford makes the save.
Third Period, 17:18, 1-1: Both goalies making the saves they need to make as this one remains tied with less than three minutes to go.
Third Period, 14:59, 1-1: The stalemate continues at the Garden in what looks like a game that may not be settled in regulation. Neither team with many serious threats in the third and both may be happy to get at least a point out of this one.
Third Period, 9:18, 1-1: The pace has picked up in the third, but it remained a 1-1 stalemate. Both teams have been buzzing around the net, but not a lot of shots getting through to either netminder. Columbus still leads in shots 23-17.
Third Period, 4:58, 1-1: The Blue Jackets use their timeout after getting called for icing. Could be a big draw in the offensive zone coming up here for Boston.
Third Period, 3:57, 1-1: The Bruins are able to kill that penalty off and are back to full strength. Columbus has a 22-14 edge in shots.
Third Period, 1:57, 1-1: The Bruins will have a big penalty to kill off as Benoit Pouliot takes an undisciplined roughing penalty deep in the offensive zone with a shot at Aaron Johnson after being hit.
Third Period, 0:58, 1-1: The Bruins a little sluggish to start the third and Columbus almost takes advantage when Rick Nash clangs the post from the left wing.
Third Period, 0:00, 1-1: The final frame is under way here at the Garden, with the Bruins needing at least one more goal to complete a perfect homestand and extend their win streak to seven games.
Second Intermission Notes: the Bruins controlled portions of that second period, especially immediately after Shawn Thornton's fight with Jared Boll, but Tuukka Rask was forced to make some big saves to preserve the 1-1 tie when Columbus started to take control late.
The Blue Jackets continue to dominate the hitting game, leading 16-7 in that category. Derek Dorsett is still matching the entire Bruins team on his own with a game-high seven hits.
The Bruins did a much better job on the faceoff, or at least Patrice Bergeron did. They still are just 13-16 overall (45 percent), but were 11-6 in the second. Bergeron is 9-4, but no other Bruin is over 50 percent.
Daniel Paille has played 7:55 so far in his first game back and has been solid, while Andrew Ference has skated 12:30 with a hit. Steven Kampfer has played 10:14, but nearly made a costly blunder beside the net. Rask bailed him out with a point-blank save to keep it tied going into the third.
End Second Period, 1-1: A lot more action in the second, but the result is the same as the teams traded goals but remain tied heading into the third period.
Second Period, 18:37, 1-1: Rask coming up with some big stops late in the second. Rick Nash sent a pass out from the right corner to Jeff Carter in the high slot, but Rask flashed out the pad to rob him.
Second Period, 14:30, 1-1: Steven Kampfer with the turnover beside the net, Mark Letestu steals the puck and steps in front for a chance, but Rask stones him.
Second Period, 12:20, 1-1: Peverley taking the extra shift with Campbell and Paille while Thornton serves his fighting major. The Bruins have come alive since that bout, another example of Thornton leading the way emotionally when needed.
Second Period, 8:35, 1-1: The gloves come off as Shawn Thornton takes on Jared Boll.
Boll took a run at Steven Kampfer and Thornton immediately challenged him. After a long square off, they came together and traded lots of rights, with Boll slipping his arm out of his jersey. Thornton was as angry as I've ever seen him as he tried to continue the bout even after the linesmen stepped in.
Second Period, 7:40, 1-1: There has been a scoring change, with Adam McQuaid now credited with the Bruins goal. No deflection in front for Peverley.
Second Period, 4:24, 1-1: The Bruins answer right back as Adam McQuaid fires a shot in from the right side that deflects in off Rich Peverley in front.
Second Period, 2:49, Blue Jackets 1-0: The Blue Jackets' 28th-ranked power play strikes with one second left on the penalty as Derek McKenzie tips one past Rask.
McKenzie redirected a shot in front from Nikita Nikitin at the right point.
Second Period, 0:50, 0-0: The Bruins are shorthanded for the first time as Gregory Campbell is sent off for high-sticking R.J. Umberger. Derek Dorsett went off holding his face earlier in that shift, but no penalty was called on that play.
Second Period, 0:00, 0-0: The middle frame is under way here at the Garden, with both teams still looking for that elusive first goal.
First Intermission Notes: Neither team got off to much of a start in this one, but the Blue Jackets will probably be a little happier with that pace and take the 0-0 stalemate into the second period.
Columbus does have a 9-3 edge in hits, with Derek Dorsett matching the Bruins' team total all by himself. One of those hits leveled Andrew Ference, who is making his return from a lower-body injury. Ference has played 5:57 over eight shifts so face, while Daniel Paille skated 4:02 over five shifts in his first period back.
Milan Lucic had the hit of the night so far when he blasted Aaron Johnson into the boards and Benoit Pouliot came close to scoring with a shot off the crossbar, but that was about it for highlights from the Bruins in this one.
Boston's biggest struggle so far has been in the faceoff circle. The Bruins are just 2-10 (17 percent) on draws so far. Patrice Bergeron is 2-2, but the rest of the team is a combined 0-8.
End First Period, 0-0: A quiet first period comes to a close with the game still scoreless and Boston holding a slim 6-5 edge in shots.
First Period, 16:43, 0-0: The Bruins come within inches of scoring as Benoit Pouliot rings the post from the left slot. He raised his hands in celebration, but it's ruled no goal and play goes on.
First Period, 16:15, 0-0: The Bruins can't do anything against that struggling PK unit, as the sides are back even in this scoreless stalemate.
First Period, 14:15, 0-0: The Bruins get the first power-play chance of the night as Columbus is called for too many men on the ice. Blue Jackets' PK is 29th in the NHL.
First Period, 13:09, 0-0: Milan Lucic with the first big hit of the night, sending Aaron Johnson crashing into the boards.
First Period, 9:55, 0-0: Columbus defenseman James Wisniewski takes a puck to the face off Milan Lucic's stick. He appeared cut as he headed off the ice.
First Period, 9:12, 0-0: First sign of life as Rich Peverley fires in shot from the right wing and Benoit Pouliot tries to stuff home the rebound, drawing a crowd for a brief scrum beside the Columbus net.
First Period, 7:34, 0-0: Vinny Prospal almost with a clean break in behind the Bruins defense, but the play is blown down for an offsides, much to the chagrin of Prospal, who lets the linesmen know about his displeasure.
First Period, 4:34, 0-0: Bit of a sleepy start to this one, with a Chris Kelly bid from the top of the crease representing the only shot from either side so far.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: We're under way at the Garden, where the Bruins are looking to close out a perfect five-game homestand and extend their win streak to seven against a Columbus team that comes in with the worst record in the NHL.
7 p.m.: Daniel Paille isn't just back in the lineup, he'll be starting this one alongside Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton, with Dennis Seidenberg and Joe Corvo on defense and Tuukka Rask in goal.
Columbus counters with ex-Bruin Samuel Pahlsson, Antoine Vermette and Derek Dorsett up front, Nikita Nikitin and Fedor Tyutin on the blue line and Curtis Sanford in net.
6:50 p.m.: Johnny Boychuk and Jordan Caron are officially the scratches for the Bruins, as Andrew Ference and Daniel Paille return to the lineup.
Cody Bass, Matt Calvert and John Moore are the scratches for Columbus.
6:45 p.m.: Based on warm-ups, it appears both Andrew Ference and Daniel paille will be back in the lineup for this one.
Ference was on the ice and skated with Steven Kampfer in the line drills. Johnny Boychuk (flu) was not on the ice.
Up front, Paille, Jordan Caron and Benoit Pouliot all skated, but Caron did not participate in the line rushes. He appears the odd man out, with Paille back with Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton on the fourth line and Pouliot skating with Chris Kelly and Rich Pverley on the third unit.
Here's the full line combinations from warm-ups:
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin
Pouliot-Kelly-Peverley
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
Defense pairs:
Chara-McQuaid
Seidenberg-Corvo
Ference-Kampfer
6:30 p.m.: It's Tuukka Time once again at the Garden. Tuukka Rask leads the Bruins out for warm-ups and will get teh start in goal for this one.
Curtis Sanford in net for Columbus.
6:20 p.m.: While the Bruins and Blue jackets don't play often, there are plenty of connections between the two teams.
Boston defenseman Adam McQuaid was originally a Columbus draft pick, but he's certainly not regretting the trade that made him a Bruin four years ago and eventually a Stanley Cup champion last spring.
Meanwhile, Columbus coach Scott Arniel admitted he was rooting for the Bruins throughout their Cup run. Arniel played for Boston in 1991-92 and his nephew, Jamie Arniel, is one of Boston's top prospects down in Providence.
6:10 p.m.: The Blue Jackets come in with the league's worst record at 3-13-1 despite making some big moves this offseason.
They haven't gotten much return on those move though. Defenseman James Wisniewski, who was signed to a six-year, $33-million deal, has no goals, just five assists and is a minus-10 in nine games after serving an eight-game suspension to start the season. Jeff Carter, acquired from the Flyers in a blockbuster deal, has no goals, three assists and is a minus-2 in seven games, missing time with a broken foot.
Holdovers like captain Rick Nash (4-8-12, minus-12) and goalie Steve Mason (3-12-1, 3.63 GAA, .875 save percentage) haven't helped either in what has been a disaster of a season so far for the Blue Jackets.
6 p.m.: The Bruins will open the final game of their five-game homestand in just about an hour, hosting the Blue Jackets as Boston tries to win its seventh straight game.
Columbus is just trying to win its first road game of the season, and will turn to Curtis Sanford in net.
The Bruins could have Andrew Ference and Daniel Paille back. Both skated this morning, but Johnny Boychuk did not and is questionable with flu-like symptoms. Ference will replace Boychuk if needed after returning to practice Wednesday from a lower-body injury that has sidelined him for the last two games. Paille could be ready to return from the broken nose that required surgery and has kept him out of three games so far.
8 a.m. ET: The Bruins have a chance to win their seventh straight game and close out a perfect five-game homestand on Thursday.
And on paper they have the perfect opponent for such a quest, as Columbus comes in with the worst record in the league by far. But the Bruins are trying their best not to take the Blue Jackets lightly.
"It's a dangerous game," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "There's always those situations where a team comes in having a tough start to the season and your team mentally isn't prepared properly and you don't prepare as well as you have for the other games and you end up regretting it at the end.
"We can't afford right now to fall into that mode," Julien added. "We dug ourselves a hole and were still digging ourselves out of it, so there's no reason for us to take any game lightly. It is a big game to get a good finish on this homestand."
The Bruins' early-season hole is no comparison to the abyss the Blue Jackets have fallen into. They are just 3-13-1 this year and haven't won a road game since March 19, when they beat the Wild in Minnesota late last season. This year, they are 0-7-0 on the road and have been outscored 35-15 in those games.
Overall, Columbus is dead last in the league in goals against at 3.69 a game, while the Bruins are second in the league in goals for at 3.42 per game. Boston has outscored its opponents 34-13 during their current six-game winning streak.
Goalie Steve Mason is a big reason for Columbus' struggles. He's just 3-12-1 with a 3.63 GAA and an .875 save percentage this year, but he is 2-0-1 with a 1.30 GAA and a .959 save percentage against the Bruins. Columbus is also one of just four teams in the NHL that doesn't have a losing record in Boston, though the Blue Jackets haven't visited often and are just 2-2-0 all-time in the Hub.
The Bruins could be getting some reinforcements soon. Andrew Ference (lower-body injury) returned to practice on Wednesday, but is still doubtful to play Thursday. Daniel Paille (nose surgery) could be a game-time decision though as he continues to progress in his recovery since being hit with a slap shot in the face last week.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here for updates on all the action from the Garden.
