BOSTON — On Monday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Boston Bruins 5-1, leaving Bruins fans expressing their discontent as their team struggled on home ice. Mathieu Olivier opened the scoring with a short-handed goal during a challenging first period for Boston, which ended with the home crowd booing their players.

Columbus added to their lead with another short-handed goal from Justin Danforth, extending the score to 4-1 midway through the third period. Yegor Chinakhov sealed the game with a fifth goal around six minutes before the final buzzer, prompting further boos and causing many fans to leave before the game concluded.

James van Riemsdyk and Dmitri Voronkov each contributed to the scoreline for the Blue Jackets, while goaltender Elvis Merz?ikins made 29 saves to help secure the victory. The Bruins’ lone goal came from Charlie Coyle, with Jeremy Swayman managing 24 saves, marking the team’s third consecutive loss.

Key observations from the match showed the Blue Jackets winning only their second game in nine attempts, thanks in part to a balanced offensive effort and their two short-handed goals. Van Riemsdyk’s performance could indicate that he is just the veteran presence the team needs right now.

On the other hand, Boston’s lackluster display against one of the weaker teams in the NHL has intensified discussions regarding the future of coach Jim Montgomery, as frustrations mount within the fanbase.

A significant moment early in the first period saw Merz?ikins lose his stick, which slid away into the corner. Surprisingly, Boston failed to capitalize on this opportunity. Instead, Dante Fabbro sent the puck out of the zone to Sean Monahan, who delivered a pass to Voronkov. The young player maneuvered through the defense, backhanding the puck past Swayman just as Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo crashed into the goal, causing it to become dislodged shortly after Voronkov scored.

Looking ahead, the Blue Jackets will be hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, while the Bruins will face off against the Utah team in their next matchup.