The Boston Bruins will face the Columbus Blue Jackets, with Boston having already clinched a place in the postseason. The Blue Jackets are trying to keep their playoff dreams alive.
Blue Jackets’ Playoff Push
Columbus has 92 points and is two points behind Philadelphia in the race for the third seed in the Metropolitan Division. Both teams have two games remaining in the regular season.
Columbus centre Charlie Coyle said that their “backs are against the wall, and we can’t afford to come out slow and kind of dip our toe in.” Coyle added, “I think everyone knows what’s at stake, where we’re at with the season, what we need right now.”
Columbus beat the Canadiens 5-2 on Saturday night. Charlie Coyle scored twice, Kirill Marchenko had a goal and a helper, and Adam Fantilli added two assists.
“Huge team effort,” Boone Jenner said. “We know what’s at stake. Big effort for us, and got to keep it going (on Sunday).”
Bruins Secure Postseason Berth
Despite a 2-1 loss to the Lightning on Saturday, the Bruins clinched an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. This was due to a Red Wings loss to the Devils.
Boston has 96 points and is off to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 16th time in 20 years. Only the Pittsburgh Penguins (17) and Washington Capitals (16) have as many postseason appearances over that span.
The Bruins had been struggling, having dropped five straight games (0-3-2).
Coaches’ Corner
Bruins coach Marco Sturm said, “We just got to make sure we’re staying sharp.” Sturm added, “I’m going to remind them what happened the last time we were in Columbus (March 29). We got absolutely dominated in the first period, and it took us a long time to get going, and we can’t do that (on Sunday). That’s something I’m going to address for sure.”
By the Numbers
- Boston’s season record is 43-27-10. Columbus’ season record is 40-28-12.
- Boston has scored 261 goals and allowed 245. Columbus has scored 243 goals and allowed 246.
- Boston’s power play percentage is 23.4%, while Columbus’ is 19.3%.
Series So Far
Sunday will mark the third and final meeting of the season between the Blue Jackets and Bruins. Boston travels to Columbus looking to sweep the season series. Boston doubled up Columbus 4-2 on Feb. 26 before squeezing out a 4-3 shootout victory on March 29.
With his assist on Morgan Geekie’s 38th goal of the season, Charlie McAvoy became the tenth defenseman with 50-plus assists this season, and the first for the Bruins since Ray Bourque registered 62 in 1995-96.
With his assist (59th), Zach Werenski moved one shy of setting the Blue Jackets’ single-season record.
The puck will drop at 6 p.m. at Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio.