February 26, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) failed to score against Boston Bruins goaltender Jonas Korpisalo (70) during the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Image The Boston Bruins rallied from an early one-goal deficit with three straight goals to defeat the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 on Thursday night in the teams’ first meeting of the season.
Viktor Arvidsson finished the game with two goals, including Boston’s opener in the first quarter and an empty-net goal in the final minute of the third quarter.
Sean Kuraly scored the eventual game winner and Morgan Geekie also lit the lamp, extending the Bruins’ point streak to nine points for the Bruins, who are 5-0-3 in their last eight games and six points ahead of the Blue Jackets for the second Eastern Conference wild card spot. The Capitals are four points behind the Bruins.
Joonas Korpisalo recorded the goal win (36 saves, 19 in the first period), holding Columbus at bay despite a 40-23 advantage in shots.
Michael DiPietro made two saves at 6:03 when Korpisalo went off the ice in a collision with Columbus forward Miles Wood, which resulted in a goaltender interference penalty and gave Boston the lead on the power play.
Adam Fantilli had a goal and an assist, Kirill Marchenko also scored and Marson Marchment assisted on both of Columbus’ goals. Columbus won its last seven games before the Olympics and lost for just the second time under coach Rick Bowness (10-2-0).
Elvis Merzlikins had 19 stops in net for the Blue Jackets.
Korpisalo saved Mathieu Olivier’s close-range backhand in an early chance for either side, but the visitors took the lead through Marchenko’s breakaway at 4:32. A poor play by Charlie McAvoy gave the puck to Mason Marchment, who jumped Marchenko down the middle for a blocker-side wrist shot.
After Boston came up empty on the game’s first power play and extended its pressure in the zone midway through the first, Korpisalo continued his outstanding start by denying Pantilli for a 2-on-1 less than a minute later.
Arvidsson tied the game at 15:51 with a shot off the right wall that bounced off a defender as Casey Mittelstadt was driving toward the net.
The Bruins jumped out to their first lead at 6:54 of the second. With 40 seconds to go after Wood’s infraction, Geekie took a pass from David Pastrnak on the left dot for a one-and-out. DiPietro made a key blocker save on Fantilli’s point blank less than a minute after Geekie’s goal to keep the score 2-1.
Kuraly, an Ohio native playing against his former team, extended Boston’s lead to 3-1 with a slapper in transition with 8:45 left.
After another appearance in the post in the opening minutes of the third, Fantilli finally found the twine to make it 3-2 with 6:15 left. He ripped home a marching pass from the high slot.
Korpisalo got back to his feet late, capping a 6-on-5 surge for the visitors with a save off the outstretched leg of Zach Werenski to keep Boston in front shortly after Fantilli’s goal.
–Field level media
