The streak lives on.
Nick Foligno scored a power play goal in the third period to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins. Their winning streak is now at 13 games and counting while their point streak is at 15 games and counting. With the Penguins win, the Blue Jackets maintain a one-point lead in both the Metropolitan division and the overall standings.
Sergei Bobrovsky was outstanding again, stopping 37 of 40 shots to improve his personal win streak. He has won 11 straight games and has won 22 games overall.
First Period
Columbus had this game circled on their schedule for some time. The Bruins owned two wins against the Blue Jackets coming into Tuesday. The Blue Jackets took out their early frustrations on the Bruins by scoring three goals in the first 9:39 of the game. Scott Hartnell, Seth Jones and Matt Calvert each tallied goals for Columbus in that stretch. It seemed Tuesday would be easy for the Blue Jackets after that.
But if we know anything about the Bruins, they’d make a game of it. Less than two minutes after the Calvert goal, they were on the board. Less than a minute after that, it was 3-2 and anyone’s game. First, noted Blue Jackets killer David Backes converted his ninth of the season and 20th career goal against Columbus. Then 55 seconds later, Austin Czarnik on a drive to the net got the Bruins to within one. The Bruins then took the game over.
Second Period
The second period was all Boston. After finishing the first period with a 13-8 shot advantage, the Bruins outshot the Blue Jackets 18-8 in the second while carrying the play. With just 1:34 remaining in the period, the line of Backes, Ryan Spooner and David Krejci struck again as Krejci found himself alone in front of Bobrovsky. He proceeds to roof the puck past Bobrovsky to tie the score at three.
Boston had all the momentum going into the third period scoring three unanswered goals. Was this finally the night the Blue Jackets winning streak would end?
Third Period
Teams traded a couple of chances to start the third, but both played it close to the vest in a tie game. Then both teams found themselves in penalty trouble. First, Cam Atkinson takes a tripping minor. The Blue Jackets kill that penalty. Then Colin Miller takes as it turns out a game-deciding cross-checking minor. Just 26 seconds after the penalty, the Blue Jackets were up 4-3.
Nick Foligno from his office on the goal line stuffed the puck into the pads of Tuukka Rask, but kept with it and scored the eventual game-winning goal.
The Bruins outshot the Blue Jackets 40-22 in the game. Although he gave up three goals, Sergei Bobrovsky was the best player on the ice. He made big saves both during the Bruins comeback and after the Blue Jackets took the lead. Had it not been for Bobrovsky, the winning streak would have ended. He once again earned first-star honors.
Scoring Summary
FIRST PERIOD
CBJ – Scott Hartnell (9) assisted by Lukas Sedlak and Sam Gagner
CBJ – Seth Jones (6) assisted by Scott Hartnell and Brandon Saad
CBJ – Matt Calvert (5) assisted by Josh Anderson
BOS – David Backes (9) assisted by David Krejci
BOS – Austin Czarnik (5) assisted by Riley Nash and Torey Krug
SECOND PERIOD
BOS – David Krejci (7) assisted by Ryan Spooner and David Backes
THIRD PERIOD
CBJ – Nick Foligno (11) assisted by Alexander Wennberg and Zach Werenski
THW Three Stars
First: Sergei Bobrovsky (37 saves on 40 shots)
Second: Nick Foligno (game-winning goal)
Third: David Krejci (goal, assist)
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NEXT UP:
Columbus Blue Jackets at Winnipeg Jets
MTS Center, 8:00 PM EST on Thursday, Dec. 29
TV Broadcast Channels: Fox Sports Ohio/Fox Sports Go and TSN Winnipeg
2016-17 Meeting: First meeting of the season