Game Preview: Blue Jackets Ship Up To Boston, Face Bruins For Second Time In A Week

BOSTON BRUINS
16-4-3 (35 pts; .761%) ROSTER SCHEDULE
7:00 P.M. – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 TD GARDEN  BOSTON, MA
TELEVISION: Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ Power Play
ODDS & PROJECTIONS:
ODDS OF CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK: 33%
PLAYOFF ODDS PER MONEYPUCK:  Bruins: 88% Blue Jackets: 5%
TIPICO SPORTSBOOK: CBJ +240

It was just Monday night when the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Boston Bruins in surprising fashion.

A three-goal victory against a team with the best point percentage in the league? A pleasant change of pace, and one that the now second-best team by point percentage will look to avenge in front of the home crowd Sunday evening when the Blue Jackets and Bruins meet up for the second time in less than a week.

Here's what to know when Sunday night hockey emanates from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts:

TALKING POINTS: BOS

• Boston's loss to Columbus was their fourth in five games, but they've righted the ship a bit this week. A home game against the San Jose Sharks came at exactly the right time, with the Bruins winning 3-0. Saturday, Brad Marchand scored in the final seconds of overtime to give his team a 4-3 win in Toronto, where the Maple Leafs had won four straight.
   
• Monday's loss also marked the first time this season that the Bruins lost a game and David Pastrnak was held off the scoresheet. Pasta leads them in goals, assists, and points — all three by a wide margin — so keeping his name out of public address announcer Greg Murray's mouth was a major accomplishment. The fact that Pastrnak had a -2 plus/minus and had just two shots on goal? Icing on the cake. Or ice. Keeping him down again will take a high degree of skill.

TALKING POINTS: CBJ

• Turns out the Blue Jackets can hold a lead after all. Falling behind 2-0 Friday night, Columbus rallied off four straight goals and maintained a 4-2 lead over the final 31:06 of the game. They were on their heels for much of the third period, but Elvis Merzlikins — who seems to be making strides in his promise to figure it all out — was sensational, stopping a total of 41 shots on the night and earning top star honors. 
   
• The odds-on favorite for Rookie of the Year had to be Adam Fantilli when the season started, but has he been usurped by Dmitri Voronkov? Strictly based on points, he has: Voronkov has a line of 5-7-12 in 19 games, compared to Fantilli's 5-6-11 in all 25 games. It's an intriguing side-story as this team develops this year, and no matter who wins that race, the Blue Jackets — and the 5th Line — will both come out victorious.
   
• Patrik Laine continues to give the Blue Jackets (and presumably head coach Pascal Vincent) fits with his sloppy play. Despite appearing in just 60% of Columbus' games so far, he leads the team in turnovers. Laine had an ugly turnover in the first period Friday that led to an Ottawa goal, though did make some amends for that with a goal of his own just six minutes later. Laine was a healthy scratch last week, and Vincent seems like the kind of coach that would sit one of his stars again if he doesn't seem improvement.

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