Game Preview: Blue Jackets Look To Move Past Sunday's Tough Loss (Again), Face Off Against Bruins Monday At Nationwide

BOSTON BRUINS
14-3-3 (31 pts; .775%) ROSTER SCHEDULE
7:00 P.M. – MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27 NATIONWIDE ARENA  COLUMBUS, OH
TELEVISION: Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ Power Play
ODDS & PROJECTIONS:
ODDS OF CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK: 31%
PLAYOFF ODDS PER MONEYPUCK:  Bruins: 93% Blue Jackets: 6%
TIPICO SPORTSBOOK: CBJ +210

Clutching defeat from the jaws of victory.

That's what the Columbus Blue Jackets did Sunday in Raleigh, squandering yet another third period, multi-goal lead in a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Blue Jackets had the chance to end a streak of 125 games without winning three straight games — a streak that dates back to March of 2022.

Instead, they'll look to start a new winning streak Monday when they return home to face the Boston Bruins. That will be no easy task; the Bruins are tied for the most points in the NHL and have lost just three games in regulation this season. But, the team they're tied with — the New York Rangers — have faced the Blue Jackets twice this season already and Columbus has taken three of the four possible points. 

Here's what to know when Boston and Columbus meet up in Ohio's capital:

TALKING POINTS: BOS

• As stated above, the Bruins have lost only three games in regulation this season. But two of them have come in the last four days, with Boston losing consecutive games by three goals to the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers on Friday and Saturday, respectively. A reasonable assumption would be that the Bruins are going to do everything they can to avoid a three-game losing streak.
   
• Brad Marchand may be the most recognizable face on the Bruins, but make no mistake that this team runs through David Pastrňák. The 27-year-old leads Boston in goals (13), assists (18), points (31), and has more three-point games this season (5) than no-point games (4). He scored in each of their three games against the Blue Jackets last year and has 20 points in 19 career games against Columbus.

TALKING POINTS: CBJ

• It's worrisome that the Blue Jackets have blown so many leads this early in the season, but it would be even more worrisome if they weren't playing well enough to find themselves in the lead to begin with. This needs to be a year of growth for the franchise, and that growth will come by not competition against teams like Boston — but finding ways to hold the lead, should they get one. 
   
• Kirill Marchenko picked up his 6th goal of the season Sunday in his 20th game of the season. Combine that with his 21 goals in 59 games last season, and as Marchenko approaches one full season of NHL experience, the 23-year-old is showing that he was worth the wait. He was on the ice for 18:42 Sunday, second amongst forwards behind only Johnny Gaudreau's 18:56. He's also a +5 this year in 5-on-5 plus/minus, which is second on the team. You could make the argument that Marchenko is arriving, or just as easily make the argument that he has arrived.
   
• After not allowing a power play goal to New Jersey or Carolina over the long weekend (4-for-4 on the penalty kill), the Blue Jackets are now second-best in the league at killing opposition power plays. They have allowed just two goals on 38 attempts over the last 15 games. One would hope they don't go to the box six times Monday night, but if they do — and kill them all — it will be the Columbus Blue Jackets who own the league's best penalty kill. It's the little things, right?

Updated: 7:05 a.m. // Subject to Change
Lines are based on most recent practice/game, as well as injury updates and news.