With the Bruins locking up their place in the postseason, can the Blue Jackets keep their playoff dreams alive?
Columbus (40-28-12, 92 points) is two points behind the Philadelphia in the race for the third seed in the Metropolitan Division, and both teams have two games remaining in the regular season.
“Our backs are against the wall, and we can’t afford to come out slow and kind of dip our toe in,” said Columbus center Charlie Coyle, the former Bruin from Weymouth. “I think everyone knows what’s at stake, where we’re at with the season, what we need right now.”
Despite a 2-1 loss to the Lightning on Saturday, the Bruins clinched an Eastern Conference wild-card spot thanks to a Red Wings loss to the Devils.
Boston (43-27-10, 96 points) is off to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 16th time in 20 years. Only the Pittsburgh Penguins (17) and Washington Capitals (16) have as many postseason appearances over that span.
The Bruins sputtered their way into a good result, having dropped five straight games (0-3-2).
“We just got to make sure we’re staying sharp,” said Bruins coach Marco Sturm. “I’m going to remind them what happened the last time we were in Columbus (March 29). We got absolutely dominated in the first period, and it took us a long time to get going, and we can’t do that (on Sunday). That’s something I’m going to address for sure.”
The puck will drop at 6 p.m. Here’s the preview:
When: Sunday, 6 p.m.
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV, radio: NESN, NHL Network, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Columbus -145. O/U: 6.5.
BRUINS
Season record: 43-27-10. vs. spread: 52-28. Over/under: 43-36, 1 push
Last 10 games: 4-4-2. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 5-5
BLUE JACKETS
Season record: 40-28-12. vs. spread: 41-39. Over/under: 37-39, 4 pushes
Last 10 games: 3-6-1. vs. spread: 3-7. Over/under: 4-6
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Boston 261, Columbus 243
Goals allowed: Boston 245, Columbus 246
Power play: Boston 23.4%, Columbus 19.3%
Penalty minutes: Boston 970, Columbus 647
Penalty kill: Boston 76.6%, Columbus 76.1%
Faceoffs won: Boston 53.0%, Columbus 50.6%
Stat of the day: With his assist on Morgan Geekie’s 38th goal of the season, Charlie McAvoy became the tenth defenseman with 50-plus assists this season, and the first for the Bruins since Ray Bourque registered 62 in 1995-96.
Notes: Sunday will mark the third and final meeting of the season between the Blue Jackets and Bruins … Boston travels to Columbus looking to sweep the season series, having doubled up Columbus 4-2 on Feb. 26 before squeezing out a 4-3 shootout victory on March 29 … With his assist (59th), Zach Werenski moved one shy of setting the Blue Jackets’ single-season record … Charlie Coyle scored twice, Kirill Marchenko had a goal and a helper, and Adam Fantilli added two assists as the visiting Blue Jackets beat the Canadiens 5-2 on Saturday night … “Huge team effort,” Boone Jenner said. “We know what’s at stake. Big effort for us, and got to keep it going (on Sunday).”
Cam Kerry can be reached at [email protected].