Blue Jackets at Bruins
THE STORY: The Stanley Cup hangover appears to be over for the Boston Bruins, who have overcome a horrendous start to the season by ripping off six consecutive victories. A seventh straight win looks to be a gimme when the NHL's worst team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, pays a visit to Boston on Thursday night. After scuffling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference for the entire month of October, the Bruins have injected themselves back into playoff contention behind a resurgent offense that has produced 34 goals in six games since the calendar turned to November. That's a remarkable turnaround for a team that was limited to two goals or fewer in its first 10 games. It’s also an ominous sign for the Blue Jackets, who have surrendered a league-high 64 goals and have lost all seven games away from home this season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSOH, NESN
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (3-13-1): Columbus may have turned in its best performance of the season Tuesday, but it went for naught in a 4-2 home loss to Minnesota. The Blue Jackets squandered a two-goal lead despite pouring a season-high 45 shots on net. In the glass-half-full category, Antoine Vermette – a three-time 20-goal scorer – finally notched his first of the season and Mark Letestu tallied for the second time in three games since he was acquired from Pittsburgh.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (9-7-0): Boston can cap off a perfect five-game homestand against Columbus. After three consecutive drubbings in which they scored six goals in each, the Bruins kept their winning streak intact by scoring three times in the third period in a 4-3 win over New Jersey on Tuesday. G Tim Thomas won his fourth straight start following a three-game losing streak. Brad Marchand scored to give him four goals and five assists in a six-game points streak.
OVERTIME:
1. The Blue Jackets have been outscored 35-15 on the road this season and have lost 12 straight (0-10-2) away from home dating to last season.
2. Marchand scored six seconds into the third period against the Devils. It marked the fastest goal to open a period for Boston since Hall of Famer Ray Bourque tallied in six seconds in November 1983.