BOSTON — Jeremy Swayman achieved his second shutout of the season by making 18 saves as the Boston Bruins claimed a 4-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. This match allowed the teams to split their home-and-home series that took place over consecutive nights.
The offensive production for the Bruins also featured goals from Morgan Geekie, Justin Brazeau, and Cole Koepke, marking their fifth win in the last seven contests. Swayman has displayed impressive form, with a record of 7 wins, 1 loss, and 1 overtime loss across his last nine appearances.
During the match, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy endured a tough hit from Mathieu Olivier, resulting in a collision that caused his head to hit the glass. Although he remained on the ice for several moments and briefly went to the locker room, he returned shortly thereafter to continue playing.
David Pastrnak found success on a clean breakaway, securing the third goal for the Bruins at 8:18 of the second period. He received a pass from Geekie near the center ice, maneuvered around the defense, and fired a wrist shot past goalie Daniil Tarasov, who made 24 saves in the game.
Earlier in the season, Columbus had come out on top in their first two meetings against Boston, outscoring them 11-3. However, in this match, the Blue Jackets struggled to create scoring opportunities.
After an embarrassing defeat the day before, the Bruins responded with a disciplined defensive performance that has characterized their play since interim coach Joe Sacco took over following the dismissal of Jim Montgomery.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Geekie scored an unassisted goal, establishing a 2-0 lead for the Bruins just 6:29 into the second period. He intercepted a blind, backhanded pass from defenseman Damon Severson in the slot and unleashed a wrist shot inside the right post.
Another critical statistic highlighted the Blue Jackets’ difficulties; during a four-minute power play, they only managed a single shot on goal after Bruins center Mark Kastelic received a double-minor penalty for high-sticking. In stark contrast, Columbus had previously enjoyed a franchise milestone by scoring three power-play goals in their Friday matchup against the Bruins.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jackets are set to host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, while the Bruins will travel to Washington for their own game on the same day.
