Jeremy Swayman led the Boston Bruins to a 4-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, recording 18 saves for his second shutout of the season and 14th of his NHL career. Swayman credited the strong team effort, highlighting the support from the defense and forwards, which contributed to the feel-good win. The Bruins bounced back from a 6-2 loss to Columbus the night before, improving to 5-1-1 in their past seven games. Bruins head coach Joe Sacco praised his team’s commitment and professionalism, noting the solid defensive play and shot-blocking efforts even late in the game.
Morgan Geekie was a key contributor, registering a goal and an assist in the win, while Justin Brazeau, David Pastrnak, and Cole Koepke also found the back of the net for Boston. Despite the loss, Columbus had their four-game point streak snapped, with goaltender Daniil Tarasov making 24 saves in his first start since December 5. Columbus forward Mathieu Olivier acknowledged that while their road game wasn’t bad, mistakes led to goals, especially after the Blue Jackets gave up several turnovers that the Bruins capitalized on.
The game’s scoring began early with Brazeau putting the Bruins ahead 1-0 just 2:29 into the first period. He converted a rebound off a shot by Brandon Carlo. The Bruins extended their lead in the second period, with Geekie scoring at 6:29. He capitalized on a turnover by Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson, firing a wrist shot past Tarasov from the left circle to make it 2-0. Geekie’s goal came after Severson’s blind puck clearance left the slot open.
The Bruins’ lead increased to 3-0 at 8:18 of the second period when Pastrnak scored on a breakaway, taking advantage of another Columbus turnover. The Blue Jackets continued to struggle with puck management, as defenseman Dante Fabbro admitted mistakes on several goals, including one he directly contributed to by turning over the puck at the blue line. Koepke sealed the win with a 4-0 goal at 6:06 of the third period, scoring on a wrist shot after collecting a loose puck in the neutral zone and beating Tarasov on a rush.
In addition to the win, the Bruins saw the NHL debut of forward Fabian Lysell, who was recalled from the AHL’s Providence Bruins. Lysell was on the ice for the first goal of the game and played 11:32 in total, finishing with a plus-1 rating. Sacco was pleased with Lysell’s performance, noting that he played responsibly without the puck and showed composure in his first game. The balanced team effort, with contributions from all lines and defensive players, helped the Bruins execute their game plan and maintain control throughout the contest.
