Playoff seeding hangs in the balance
With the Bruins locking up their spot in the postseason, can the Blue Jackets maintain their playoff goals alive?
Columbus (40-28-12, 92 factors) is 2 factors behind the Philadelphia in the race for the third seed in the Metropolitan Division, and each groups have two video games remaining in the common season.
“Our backs are against the wall, and we can’t afford to come out slow and kind of dip our toe in,” stated Columbus middle 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 due to a Red Wings loss to the Devils.
Boston (43-27-10, 96 factors) is off to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the sixteenth 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 approach into an excellent consequence, having dropped 5 straight video games (0-3-2).
“We just got to make sure we’re staying sharp,” stated 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 pm 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 file: 43-27-10. vs. unfold: 52-28. Over/beneath: 43-36, 1 push
Last 10 video games: 4-4-2. vs. unfold: 7-3. Over/beneath: 5-5
BLUE JACKETS
Season file: 40-28-12. vs. unfold: 41-39. Over/beneath: 37-39, 4 pushes
Last 10 video games: 3-6-1. vs. unfold: 3-7. Over/beneath: 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 received: Boston 53.0%, Columbus 50.6%
Stat of the day: With his help on Morgan Geekie’s thirty eighth purpose of the season, Charlie McAvoy turned 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 closing assembly of the season between the Blue Jackets and Bruins … Boston travels to Columbus trying to sweep the season sequence, having doubled up Columbus 4-2 on Feb. 26 earlier than squeezing out a 4-3 shootout victory on March 29 … With his help (59th), Zach Werenski moved one shy of setting the Blue Jackets’ single-season file … Charlie Coyle scored twice, Kirill Marchenko had a purpose and a helper, and Adam Fantilli added two assists as the visiting Blue Jackets beat the Canadiens 5-2 on Saturday night time… “Huge team effort,” Boone Jenner stated. “We know what’s at stake. Big effort for us, and got to keep it going (on Sunday).”
Cam Kerry will be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.
