The Columbus Blue Jackets will try to stay on a roll and complete a three-game season sweep when they visit the Boston Bruins on Saturday for the second game of a home-and-home series.
The Blue Jackets won 6-2 at home on Friday, marking their second straight win and extending their point streak to four games (3-0-1). They have outscored the Bruins 11-3 in the first two meetings.
“I think we were excited to get back to play after the break,” said Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan, referring to the team’s three-day Christmas break. “Guys were moving the puck well, and we were finding the back of the net. We’ve got to keep that up and be consistent with that.”
The key to consistency will be building on their strong performance in the rematch. Four Blue Jackets players had multiple points, and a four-goal second period was the difference on Friday.
With a one-goal, two-assist effort, Kirill Marchenko extended his point streak to seven games (four goals, nine assists). He has been strong on a line with Dmitri Voronkov and Monahan, who both scored twice.
“They’re the line that drives our team,” said defenseman Zach Werenski, who had four assists.
The Blue Jackets have already won in Boston, taking a 5-1 victory on Nov. 18. The following morning, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery was fired and replaced by interim coach Joe Sacco, who has since posted an 11-5-1 record.
Columbus has struggled on the road with a 4-11-3 record, compared to 11-4-3 at home.
“We have to be better on the road if we’re going to get to where we want to go,” said Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason. “(Friday’s) game has to roll into (Saturday).”
Boston is currently on a five-game home winning streak.
The Bruins’ recent five-game point streak (4-0-1) came to an end with Friday’s loss, which followed a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Monday.
Charlie Coyle scored for the third straight game, and captain Brad Marchand recorded an assist, extending his point streak to 11 games (seven goals, seven assists). Despite Sacco’s success, the Bruins are still showing inconsistent play.
“The three-day break didn’t have as much toll on them as it did on us,” said Sacco. “We just have to be better, all of us.”
Boston’s penalty kill has struggled recently, killing only 14 of 24 power plays (58.3 percent) over the last nine games. Earlier in the season, the Bruins had a 71.4 percent penalty kill rate.
Before Friday’s 3-for-3 power-play performance, the Blue Jackets had not scored more than once on the power-play in a game all season. Boston’s second-period issues also came from losing key battles.
“You can’t win many games when you’re being outworked like that,” Coyle said. “That’s embarrassing.” For the Bruins, responding quickly on home ice will be crucial.
“We didn’t play up to our standards (on Friday). I certainly didn’t play up to mine,” said Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy. “The best part of this league is you get to turn a new leaf every single day. So, we’re going to leave this one here and we get a chance to get it right (Saturday).”
Before this season, the Bruins had only lost once in their previous nine matchups with the Blue Jackets.
