COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Sean Monahan scored twice in his 800th NHL game, helping Columbus beat the Boston Bruins 6-2 Friday night and extending the Blue Jackets’ home win streak to three games. Dmitri Voronkov added two goals and an assist, extending his point streak to six games. Kirill Marchenko’s goal and two assists gave him points in a career-high seven straight. Adam Fantilli also scored, and Elvis Merzlikins made 23 saves for Columbus. Zach Werenski had four assists for the second time in his career, setting a franchise record with points in 12 straight home games.
Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle scored for the Bruins, who lost their second straight on the road, with Joonas Korpisalo stopping 27 shots. Brad Marchand’s assist on Coyle’s goal extended his point streak to 11 games.
The Bruins seemed competitive at first, managing to tie the game late in the first period, but then fell silent offensively. They went nearly 10 minutes without a shot on goal during the second period and allowed five unanswered goals, culminating in what many considered to be one of their poorest performances of the season.
The Blue Jackets, conversely, took charge early, firmly establishing their presence with three goals scored within just 2:47 during the second period. This surge, combined with another goal just 46 seconds before the end of the second period, iced the game and enhanced their impressive record of 10-0-3 when leading after two periods.
For Columbus, this was not just about individual highlights; it marked their first time scoring three power-play goals since February 23, 2021. The team has been strong on the power play as they have scored goals with the man advantage in eight of their last ten games, showcasing their growing offensive efficiency.
Boston’s defensive woes continued as they allowed three power-play goals, repeating the trend of suffering difficult losses this season. Reflecting on the game, Charlies Coyle voiced his frustrations, stating, “We weren't winning many battles... you can't win many games when you're being outworked like this.”
Looking forward, the teams are set for the final encounter of the season, with Boston hosting Columbus on Saturday. Despite their challenges, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy emphasized the importance of resilience in hockey, saying, “The best part of this League is you get to turn a new leaf every single day.”
