Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: ESPN+ (national) | NESN / FanDuel Sports Network Ohio (regional)
Game Context
The Blue Jackets are 14-12-3 on the road. They are surging and just four points behind the Bruins for the final wild-card spot, making this a massive four-point swing game in the tight Eastern playoff race. The Bruins are 21-8-1 at home. They hold the second wild-card position and have been one of the league’s steadiest home teams all season. Both clubs return from the Olympic break with fresh legs but potential rust, turning this into a high-stakes early test of their playoff push.
Recent Team Forms (Last 10 Games)
Blue Jackets: 9-1-0 (W7 streak entering the break). They have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL, scoring 38 goals (3.8 per game) while allowing just 20 (2.0 per game). Dominant defensively and opportunistic offensively, with wins including a 4-0 shutout of Chicago on Feb. 4.
Bruins: 6-1-3 in their last 10 before the break (strong 12-2-3 in their final 17 pre-break games). Averaging 3.4 goals scored and 3.1 allowed. They enter with a nine-game home winning streak intact and excellent underlying metrics at TD Garden.
Injury Report
Columbus Blue Jackets
- Brendan Smith (D) – Out (leg – surgery recovery)
Boston Bruins
- Charlie McAvoy (D) – Game-time decision (returned from Team USA gold medal; late travel, practiced lightly)
- Jeremy Swayman (G) – Game-time decision (returned from Team USA gold; practiced Wednesday but status for start uncertain)
- All other key players (including Olympians David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Hampus Lindholm) are expected available. Pavel Zacha (upper body) is fully cleared and “good to go.”
The status of McAvoy and Swayman is the biggest X-factor — if either/both sit, Boston’s defensive structure and goaltending depth take a noticeable hit.
Projected Starters & Key Player Matchups
Blue Jackets (projected): G (Elvis Merzlikins or Daniil Tarasov), D Zach Werenski (Olympic gold medalist, leads NHL D with 20 goals / 62 points), forwards Kirill Marchenko, Adam Fantilli, Dmitri Voronkov, Charlie Coyle.
Bruins (projected, pending goalie): G (Swayman or backup if rested), D (McAvoy if active + Hampus Lindholm), forwards David Pastrnak (70 points), Morgan Geekie (54 points), Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha.
Key Matchups
- Zach Werenski (CBJ – 20G/62P) vs. Bruins top line (Pastrnak / Lindholm): Werenski’s offensive dynamism from the blue line tests Boston’s structure; Pastrnak’s elite finishing could exploit any post-Olympic rust.
- Bruins power play (3rd in NHL at 26.3%) vs. Columbus penalty kill: Boston’s man-advantage has been lethal at home; CBJ must stay disciplined after allowing just 2.0 goals per game lately.
- Goaltending battle: If Swayman starts, it’s a gold-medal showcase; otherwise Columbus’s hot offense faces a potentially thinner Bruins crease.
- Physicality / Transition: Both teams play fast — expect heavy board battles and odd-man rushes as rust shakes out.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
First meeting of the season. Bruins won the most recent matchup on Dec. 28, 2024 (4-0 shutout). Boston has historically dominated the all-time series (roughly 27-12-5 in recent regular-season play), but Columbus enters this one with far more momentum.
Betting Trends
- Bruins: 11-6 as favorites of -111 or shorter; 33 of 57 games went Over 6.5 (57.9%); excellent 21-8-1 home record.
- Blue Jackets: 13-22 as underdogs but 9-1-0 in last 10 overall; 26 of 56 games went Over 6.5 (46.4%); scorching 3.8 GF / 2.0 GA in recent stretch.
- Post-Olympic break games often see elevated scoring due to rust and fresher legs. Both teams rank top-10 in combined goals per game.
Game Odds
Columbus Blue Jackets 6.5
Boston Bruins – 115
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, February 25, 2026
