Bruins resume NHL schedule after Olympic pause, beat Blue Jackets 4-2 at TD Garden

Boston’s return from the Olympic break opened with a needed two points in the Eastern Conference race

The Boston Bruins returned to game action Thursday night after the league’s Olympic pause and opened the stretch run with a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at TD Garden. The result halted a seven-game Columbus winning streak and extended Boston’s run of collecting points to eight straight games.

Viktor Arvidsson provided the offensive anchor with two goals, including an empty-net finish in the final minute. Morgan Geekie and Sean Kuraly also scored for Boston, which used a special-teams goal and timely third-period finishing to separate in a game where Columbus generated the larger share of shots.

Boston overcame a 1-0 deficit with three consecutive goals and managed the final minutes after Columbus pulled within one in the third period.

How the game turned

Columbus opened the scoring early in the first period when Kirill Marchenko converted on a breakaway to put the Blue Jackets ahead 1-0. Boston answered later in the period as Arvidsson tied the game, and the teams went into intermission even despite Columbus applying sustained pressure.

The Bruins moved in front during the second period on the power play. Geekie scored at 6:54 of the second, giving Boston a 2-1 lead that held into the third. Kuraly then extended the margin to 3-1 at 11:15 of the third period, but Adam Fantilli cut it to 3-2 at 13:45 to set up a tight finish. With Columbus pressing and the goaltender pulled for an extra attacker late, Arvidsson’s empty-net goal sealed the 4-2 final.

Goaltending storyline and a brief interruption

Joonas Korpisalo made 36 saves for Boston, a key factor on a night Columbus finished with a significant shot advantage. Korpisalo briefly left the game in the second period after a collision that resulted in an interference penalty, and backup Michael DiPietro faced two shots during the stoppage in net. Korpisalo returned to finish the game.

Context: standings, schedule, and Olympic overlap

The matchup was the first for both clubs after a multiweek break tied to the Winter Olympics. Boston held a wild-card position entering the game, with Columbus chasing in the same crowded tier of the Eastern Conference. Boston also managed lineup decisions connected to Olympic participation, with goaltender Jeremy Swayman not active Thursday following his appearance in the Olympic gold medal game earlier in the week.

• Bruins: 4 goals on 23 shots; 1 power-play goal.
• Blue Jackets: 2 goals on 40 shots; rallied within one in the third.
• Next up: Boston visits Philadelphia on Saturday; Columbus hosts the New York Islanders on Saturday.

For Boston, the opener offered a template for the post-break schedule: a disciplined special-teams moment, finishing at key points in the third period, and goaltending that held up against heavy volume.