GAME 73: BLUE JACKETS (39-28-5) AT BRUINS (45-17-8)
Location:TD Garden, 7 p.m., Monday
TV:Fox Sports Ohio/Fox Sports Go (Jeff Rimer, Jody Shelley); New England Sports Network (NESN), SportsNet, TVA Sports
Radio:97.1 FM & BlueJackets.com (Bob McElligott)
The last time the Blue Jackets were in Boston, things did not go well.
In fact, things went quite badly. The Boston Bruins won, 7-2, on Dec. 18 at TD Garden, scoring four goals in the third period in a stinging defeat for the Blue Jackets, who'd also lost by the same score six days earlier to the Edmonton Oilers at Nationwide Arena.
It's a much different scenario this time, as Columbus looks to extend an eight-game winning streak and continue its hunt for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They need to keep gathering wins, preferrably in regulation or overtime, so they can make their second straight postseason appearance and fourth in franchise history.
"We want to get the win," captain Nick Foligno said. "The last time [here] we didn't. We know it's a hard building to win in, but we've got to find a way to play better than we did the last time. There's always motivation, but our motivation isn't revenge. It's just about climbing the standings and making sure we're giving ourselves the best chance to win because of the race we're in with some other teams. The Bruins are in the way of that, so we're going to have an exciting game on our hands."
The Bruins are dealing with numerous injuries and won't be at full strength. They'll be without their top defense pairing of Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy plus three top-six forwards, including centers Patrice Bergeron and David Backes.
Columbus also has a big injury situation to overcome, as defenseman Seth Jones will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury.
"The way we're playing right now, we're not really thinking about the past too much," said Zach Werenski , who is Jones' defense partner. "Obviously, we know what happened here with a 7-2 loss. You never want to have that happen, but it's part of the game and it does happen. I think coming in here tonight, we want to make a statement that it was kind of a fluke and it won't happen again."
The Blue Jackets are coming off a 2-1 win Saturday against the Ottawa Senators, which was their seventh win in a row overall and seventh in a row at Nationwide Arena - one short of tying the franchise record for consecutive home victories. It was also their eighth win (8-2-0) since adding three veterans before the NHL Trade Deadline passed last month.
Columbus currently owns the second wild card in the Eastern Conference with 83 points and has 10 games left to cement that spot or higher for the postseason. The game against the Bruins will begin the Blue Jackets' 17th and final back-to-back of the season and a stretch of four games in six days that includes home games against the Florida Panthers on Thursday and St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
Tuukka Rask, who's won his past six appearances, is expected to start for the Bruins. Joonas Korpisalo, who's won in his past two appearances, will start for the Blue Jackets - who are averaging four goals a game during their win streak.
"You don't worry about putting fingers on [why], you don't overthink it, you just play," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "Guys are playing better. If we could put our finger on it to score goals, we'd have done this a long time ago. It's a funny game, how confidence comes and goes with players. You get a couple of bounces here and there, and you gain momentum off of it. We don't do much talking about it. We just hope it continues."
Preview: Jackets need eighth straight win more than payback in Boston
Columbus heading into final back-to-back, stretch of four games in six days
