Bruins Triumph Over Blue Jackets
In a thrilling matchup on Thursday night, the Boston Bruins emerged victorious against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a score of 4-2, marking the first game for both squads following a lengthy three-week pause for the Winter Olympics. Viktor Arvidsson was the standout performer for the Bruins, finding the back of the net twice during the game.
Key Performances
Additionally, Joonas Korpisalo delivered a stellar performance in goal, securing 36 saves to help lead his team to victory. The Bruins also saw contributions from Morgan Geekie and Sean Kuraly, the latter of whom extended Boston’s lead to two goals in the final period.
Late Game Drama
Despite an early advantage, Boston faced a threat late in the game when Columbus’s Adam Fantilli fired a powerful shot from the high slot, bringing the Blue Jackets within one goal with just six minutes to play. As the game neared its conclusion, Columbus opted to pull their goaltender, Elvis Merzlikins, in favor of an extra skater. This strategic move backfired as Arvidsson clinched the game for the Bruins by scoring into the empty net in the dying seconds.
Player Highlights
Columbus managed to see Kirill Marchenko net his 20th goal of the season, while Merzlikins recorded 19 saves throughout the contest. Korpisalo did experience a brief departure from the game after colliding with Columbus’s Miles Wood, who received an interference penalty for the incident. During this interval, Michael DiPietro stepped in and made two crucial saves while Korpisalo was assessed for a possible concussion.
Tribute to Olympians
In a moment of tribute during the game, the Bruins took time to honor their players who participated in the Milan-Cortina Olympics, drawing loud cheers from fans when highlights of Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman were displayed on the video board. Swayman, despite not being active for this particular game, showed his support by sitting on the bench and sharing a warm moment with McAvoy.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Blue Jackets will host the New York Islanders on Saturday, while the Bruins are set to face off against the Philadelphia Flyers on the same day.
AP NHL
