Playing their second game in as many nights, the Bruins appeared to be out of gas through the first two periods in Columbus.
The Blue Jackets took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission, and while the B’s showed some push-back in the middle period, it was looking like one of those nights.
However, the Bruins stormed back with three goals in the third period to force overtime, then Viktor Arvidsson won it in the third round of the shootout to give the Bruins a massive 4-3 win over Columbus.
Pavel Zacha
led the way on offense for the B’s, recording two goals and an assist. The second of those goals came with just 11 seconds left in regulation, forcing OT.
Charlie McAvoy scored the other Boston goal, while Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves, plus two more in the shootout.
Boone Jenner got the scoring started on a great odd-man rush from the Blue Jackets, walking right down Broadway to beat Swayman and make it 1-0 Columbus six minutes into the game.
Mason Marchment would be credited with a tip of an Ivan Provorov shot just under 90 seconds later, making it 2-0 Columbus.
The B’s woke up a bit after that goal, but David Pastrnak took a tripping penalty late in the first that led to a laser from Charlie Coyle making it 3-0 Columbus with just 28 seconds left in the period.
NOT GREAT.
The Bruins had a better second period, outshooting Columbus 12-5, but had nothing to show for it.
It wasn’t until, to quote Doc Emerick, “JUST A TOSS” from McAvoy beat Jet Greaves to get the Bruins on the board and make it 3-1 Columbus.
Just 2:14 later, McAvoy would be involved again, as Zacha tipped his shot off approximately 14 posts and in to make it 3-2 Columbus.
After Jenner took a tripping penalty with 42 seconds to go, the Bruins had a 6-on-4 advantage with Swayman pulled.
After Coyle failed to clear a loose puck, Zacha was in the right place at the right time to flip the puck over Greaves and make it a 3-3 game with just 11 seconds left.
Columbus shot first in the shootout, with Swayman stopping Adam Fantilli. Fraser Minten scored on his attempt, then Coyle scored on Columbus’ third attempt to force a third Bruins shooter.
That would be Arvidsson, who beat Greaves with a beautiful move to put the game away.
Bruins win, 4-3.
Game notes
- Man. I’m not sure what you can really say after a game like that, one where the Bruins went from down and out to somehow emerging with two points. Similar to the Buffalo game, where the B’s hung in there with momentum against them in the third period, they deserve a ton of credit for sticking around long enough to keep the game within reach.
- David Pastrnak’s point streak came to an end, as he was held off the scoresheet tonight.
- While Arvidsson doesn’t get credit for a goal for his shootout winner (which seems silly), he had his fingerprints all over this game, assisting on all three Bruins goals.
- I don’t know how odd this is, but the Bruins had three goals tonight while also only having three players credited with points. Zacha and Arvidsson assisted on McAvoy’s goal, Arvidsson and McAvoy assisted on Zacha’s first goal, and Arvidsson assisted again on Zacha’s game-tying goal. THE MCZARVIDSSON GAME.
- Just to belabor the point above and confirm I’m not crazy, Columbus also scored three goals but had six players on the scoresheet. I’m on to something, I swear.
- Also in the “Weird File,” Jenner and McAvoy were involved in three tripping penalties with one another in the third period. Jenner was whistled for tripping McAvoy twice, while McAvoy got him back once. Twilight Zone game, etc.
- It’s easy to play armchair quarterback, but it sure was a poor decision for Coyle to make any kind of play with the puck prior to Zacha’s game-tying goal. Kick it, lay on it, fire it into the corner…anything other than trying to do too much.
- Tanner Jeannot and Mark Kastelic deserve credit for trying to get their team involved in this one, as they each had a fight just six seconds apart late in the first period. Jeannot gave up some size in a fight with Erik Gudbranson, while Kastelic tangled with Mathieu Olivier.
- The two points gave the Bruins a four-point cushion over Columbus in the jockeying for WC1 and WC2. They also jumped to six points ahead of idle Detroit and Ottawa, while the Flyers won again to improve to 8-1-1 in their last ten and move to just two points behind Columbus.
- McZarvidsson forever.
The B’s will have an optional skate on Monday, which should be lightly attended based on taking four points out of four on the weekend.
Dallas will come to town on Tuesday night.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend/Monday!
