The Boston Bruins faced off against the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second straight time on Saturday night and wrapped up their 2024 home finale with redemption in mind.
Boston, fresh off a lopsided 6-2 loss to Columbus on Friday night, flipped the switch and took the ice with an aggressive edge that produced three unanswered goals across the first two periods of play. That red-hot start and momentum set the tone and allowed the Bruins to corner the Blue Jackets en route to a 4-0 victory, which improved their record to 20-14-4.
The Blue Jackets, winners in three of their last four entering the matchup, were dealt a rude awakening from a motivated Bruins offense.
David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie and Justin Brazeau delivered the three-goal punch that put Columbus in a quick and early deficit, paving the way for the Black and Gold to trot their way across the finish line.
Boston forward Charlie Coyle considered Friday night’s effort “embarrassing” and the message spread across the locker room as the Bruins understood there’d only be one way to put the defeat in the rearview mirror: flipping the script on the Blue Jackets. The Bruins came out with a ready-to-go demeanor that even resulted in Mark Kastelic dropping the gloves with Blue Jackets wing Mathieu Olivier immediately after Boston netted its first goal in the game’s opening period.
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Nikita Zadorov, too, got a chance to square up with Olivier and join in the fight night festivities by throwing down in the third period after Cole Koepke netted the knockout blow to increase Boston’s lead to 4-0. Columbus, at that point, had no answer for the Bruins and was forced to skate away with nothing to show for its scoreless effort.
Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman stiff-armed the Blue Jackets from mustering any sort of comeback effort, recording 19 saves throughout his second shutout of the season. Swayman improved to 7-1-1 across his last nine starts.
The B’s will next prepare for the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night to officially close out the year. Puck drop from Capital One Arena is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET, and you can catch the action, plus an hour of pregame coverage, live on NESN.
Featured image via Bob DeChiara/Imagn Images
