Ullmark makes 30 saves, Bruins blank Blue Jackets for fifth straight win

COLUMBUS -- Linus Ullmark made 30 saves for the Boston Bruins in their fifth straight win, 4-0 against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Friday.

David Pastrnak extended his goal streak to four games and had an assist, and Jake DeBrusk also scored for the Bruins (8-1-0).
"Everyone's feeling fairly good about their games and unbelievable goaltending," DeBrusk said. "You saw it tonight. Linus was amazing and honestly kept us in the game and let us get that lead and kind of control the game from there."
Elvis Merzlikins allowed four goals on 29 shots for the Blue Jackets (3-6-0) before being pulled after the second period. Daniil Tarasov made six saves in relief.
Columbus has lost its past three home games.
"We've got to get more competitive in our 1-on-1s in some different areas," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "We can't fool ourselves here and say it's just bad breaks. There is no excuse. The competitive level, especially in the second period for me, that and parts in the first, it was too easy to get through guys. Too easy for me."

Matt Grzelcyk gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 8:43 of the first period with a wrist shot from the left face-off circle.
Charlie Coyle scored an unassisted short-handed goal on a backhand from the left circle at 4:30 of the second to make it 2-0.
"It's a great start," Coyle said. "I don't know if a lot of people expected us to have the record that we have now, but it doesn't matter. We know what's in here and the guys we have and the guys that can fill in and take on responsibility. It's a great sign for a team with a few key guys out."
DeBrusk scored on an unassisted breakaway at 15:07 to extend the lead to 3-0, and Pastrnak made it 4-0 with 27 seconds left in the second when he entered the zone on a 2-on-1 and beat Merzlikins from the left circle.
Pastrnak has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past four games.
Patrik Laine was denied by Ullmark on a one-timer from the left circle during a Blue Jackets power play at 13:37 of the third period, and again 1:03 later on a wrist shot from the slot at 14:30.

It was Ullmark's fifth NHL shutout. He is 6-0-0 this season and has a 1.70 goals-against average and .945 save percentage.
"We're giving up odd-man rushes," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. "There are guys open on the back door, [but] you're not even worried because you just expect our goalies to make saves. It's a very comforting feeling as a coach."
Columbus, which outshot Boston 11-6 in the third, has scored six goals during the three-game home skid. Since taking a 3-1 lead at 3:57 of the second against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 22, the Blue Jackets have been outscored here 15-3.
"We have to figure out how to play better to a man, every single guy, and we will. It's disappointing," forward Sean Kuraly said. "We think we've got better, we know we've got better. We're going to get there, but that's not how we wanted to play most of the game."
NOTES: Ullmark is the fourth goalie in Bruins history to start a season with at least six straight wins, joining Tim Thomas (eight, 2010-11), Tuukka Rask (six, 2016-17) and Tiny Thompson (six, 1937-38). … Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek made his NHL debut; he had one shot on goal and three hits in 14:38 of ice time. The 18-year-old was the No. 6 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. … Boston center Patrice Bergeron had an assist, extending his point streak to three games (one goal, two assists). … Bruins center David Krejci (upper body) did not play after being injured at the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. … Boston forward Brad Marchand had a scheduled game off following his season debut Thursday. He underwent surgery on both hips May 28. … The Blue Jackets went 0-for-3 on the power play; they have not scored in 23 chances this season and are 0-for-18 at home. They have allowed two short-handed goals.