The Boston Bruins are set to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets this evening at Nationwide Arena, kicking off a home-and-home series following the holiday break. The Bruins, with a record of 19-13-4, are hoping to build upon their momentum from previous games, particularly coming off their last victory against the Washington Capitals.
Interim head coach Joe Sacco is optimistic about his team’s performance. "The start is going to be important for us tonight. I would expect they’re going to come out with some pace tonight and we have to be ready to respond to it," Sacco said, emphasizing the need for the Bruins to make their presence felt early. The Bruins’ roster remains consistent, with Charlie Coyle continuing to play alongside Elias Lindholm and Brad Marchand, and Morgan Geekie teaming up with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak. The Bruins will utilize Joonas Korpisalo as their starting goaltender instead of Jeremy Swayman for this matchup.
Pastrnak, who had missed part of the previous game due to injury, will return to action, much to the relief of the Bruins. "He’ll be back in tonight," Sacco confirmed during the pre-game comments. The forward, known for his dynamic scoring ability, will be key to Boston’s offensive strategy. Other notable players for the Bruins include Nikita Zadorov and Charlie McAvoy on defense, providing stability, and Justin Brazeau bringing grit to the forward lineup.
Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets, currently at 14-15-6, have had their ups and downs but will look to capitalize on home ice advantage. They recently defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-4, showcasing their offensive potential. Key players for Columbus include Dmitri Voronkov, Kirill Marchenko, and Zach Werenski. Marchenko has had notable contributions, leading the team with 37 points, and will aim to continue his scoring streak against the Bruins.
The Blue Jackets will have their own strengths to lean on, especially since they’ve historically matched up well with the Bruins. Earlier this season, Columbus handed the Bruins their first loss, which led to significant changes within Boston’s coaching staff. It will be interesting to see how both teams adapt their strategies based on this history.
Boston's offense has shown significant improvement, climbing to 19th place for goals per 60 minutes since the coach change, which contrasted starkly with their earlier performance ranking 31st. The Bruins aim to maintain this upward trend; their defensive metrics have also vastly improved, moving up from the bottom of the league to more respectable standings. This increase in performance can be attributed to Sacco’s training methods and game strategies emphasized over the holiday. On the other side, Columbus has been effective offensively, ranking fourth for goals per 60 minutes, indicating they can score but may struggle defensively.
Head-to-head, the Bruins have traditionally dominated their matchups against Columbus, winning eight out of their last ten meetings. With the stakes high and both teams featuring compelling narratives, the game tonight is more than just two points; it's about establishing dominance early this season. Fans can expect a fast-paced matchup with plenty of exciting action.
You can catch the puck drop at 7 p.m. ET, with pregame coverage airing on NESN. Both teams are hoping for positive results as they ramp up for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
