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The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Boston Bruins in a pivotal late-season game with major playoff implications. The Blue Jackets have lost three of their last four games and need to get back on track against the surging Bruins, who sit just three points ahead of Columbus in the Eastern Conference standings.

Why it matters

This game could have a significant impact on the Blue Jackets’ playoff hopes, as a regulation loss would put them five points behind the Bruins. A regulation win would close the gap to just one point, making the final stretch of the season even more crucial.

The details

The Bruins are led by star forward David Pastrnak, who has 92 points on the season, including 29 goals. Boston also features strong contributions from Morgan Geekie, Pavel Zacha, and defenseman Charlie McAvoy. In goal, the Bruins have one of the league’s best in Jeremy Swayman, though Joonas Korpisalo could get the start against his former team. The Blue Jackets have struggled offensively of late, scoring just six goals in their last four games. They’ll need to find a way to generate more offense and shut down Pastrnak if they want to come away with a crucial win.

The Blue Jackets and Bruins previously met on February 26th, with Boston winning 4-2.This is the second of three meetings between the teams this season, with the final game scheduled for April 12th.

The players

David Pastrnak

The Bruins’ leading scorer with 92 points, including 29 goals, and a key player the Blue Jackets will need to contain.

Jeremy Swayman

The Bruins’ starting goaltender, who is one of the best in the league and could pose a challenge for the Blue Jackets’ offense.

Joonas Korpisalo

The Bruins’ backup goaltender, who previously played for the Blue Jackets and could get the start against his former team.

Dmitri Voronkov

The Blue Jackets forward who left the previous game with an upper-body injury and will not play against the Bruins.

Jet Greaves

The Blue Jackets’ starting goaltender for tonight’s game, who will need to be sharp to give his team a chance to win.

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What’s next

The Blue Jackets will need to win at least 6 of their remaining 9 games to keep their playoff hopes alive. This game against the Bruins is a crucial one, as a regulation loss would put them 5 points behind Boston in the standings.

The takeaway

The Blue Jackets are in a precarious position, having lost 3 of their last 4 games. They need to find a way to generate more offense and shut down the Bruins’ top players like David Pastrnak if they want to keep their playoff dreams alive. This game against a division rival is a must-win for Columbus.