The Columbus Blue Jackets roll past the Boston Bruins after the NHL holiday break

The Boston Bruins had a long day after the NHL holiday break and the Blue Jackets made the most of it on Friday night at Nationwide Arena.

With four goals in the second period, including three power play goals, the Blue Jackets (15-15-6) turned a close game into a 6-2 win over the third-place team in the Atlantic Division. Columbus moved to within two points of the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference and one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.

“I think we were excited to be able to play again after the break,” Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan said. “The guys moved the puck well and we found the back of the net. We have to keep it up and stay consistent.”

Dmitri Voronkov and Monahan led the way with two goals each, while Zach Werenski matched his career-high in a single game with four assists. Kirill Marchenko extended his career-high streak to seven straight games with a goal and two assists, Adam Fantilli scored his seventh goal of the season and Elvis Merzlikins made 23 saves to secure the win in net.

Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle scored goals for the Bruins (19-14-4), who boarded a flight back to Boston after the game to continue a day that began for them there with a 7:30 a.m. flight Columbus, which went out of the league, to complete the break. They will host the Blue Jackets at TD Garden on Saturday.

“We fully expected to compete, and we did,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. “We did a lot of really good things in this hockey game. Forget the result. We did a lot of things to manage the game, but the game is over and we have to do it again (Saturday night in Boston).”

Monahan and Zacha traded goals in the first period, but the 1-1 tie didn’t last long in the second period. The Blue Jackets ended the frustrating trend of being outplayed in the second half and shattered that trend with a four-goal win. After the dust settled, they had a 5-1 lead early in the third period with goals from Fantilli, Monahan and two from Voronkov capping power plays.

Voronkov gave the Blue Jackets their first game with more than one power play goal since March 26, 2024, when they scored twice in a 6-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes – who have since moved to Utah. It was the Jackets’ first game with three power play goals since February 23, 2021, in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Marchenko’s 14th goal made it 6-1 at the start of the third period, before Coyle finally scored for Boston about a minute later and increased the difference back to four goals. The Blue Jackets improved their home record to 11-4-3, a stark contrast to their 4-11-3 road record.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets roll past the Boston Bruins after the NHL holiday break

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