The Columbus Blue Jackets are set to face the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena, following a 3-2 defeat against the San Jose Sharks on March 29. The loss impacted the Blue Jackets’ playoff hopes, leaving them in the final wild card spot with nine games remaining in the regular season.
This matchup is important as both teams are competing for positioning in the Eastern Conference. Boston moved three points ahead of Columbus after their win on Saturday, increasing pressure on the Blue Jackets to respond quickly. Head coach Rick Bowness said, “We didn’t have our legs, it’s as simple as that. We just didn’t have our legs. What the guys have to learn is when you don’t have your legs, you try to simplify the game a little bit. And even though we didn’t have our legs, we’re still trying to make plays that just weren’t there. They had their legs, give them credit. They played a fast game, and we were caught in between all night.”
Bowness also emphasized recovery and preparation for Sunday’s game: “The players are going to have to get a good night’s rest and rest tomorrow and come in and just play a smarter game… When you don’t have your legs and it’s clear, don’t complicate the game.” Defenseman Erik Gudbranson added that while frustration was high after Saturday’s performance, focus would shift quickly: “But we have to soak it in for the next 30 minutes, the next hour, and you have to refocus and get ready for a huge game tomorrow… There’s a lot of character in this group, so we’re gonna refocus and come back tomorrow.”
Several lineup changes are expected due to injuries; Dmitri Voronkov (upper body) will be out week-to-week after leaving Saturday’s contest injured. Goaltender Jet Greaves will start against Boston; he has been strong recently with a 12-2-2 record over his last 17 appearances.
The Blue Jackets enter Sunday leading NHL defensemen with 55 goals this season—a new franchise record—and captain Boone Jenner is set for his 800th career NHL game.
Boston comes into town holding onto a wild card spot under first-year head coach Marco Sturm despite significant roster changes over recent seasons.
