Bruins 4, Blue Jackets 2

 

The NHL was off for like, what, two and a half weeks while its players were, I dunno, playing the Winter Olympics for various countries and winning the gold medal for Team USA. But now there're back, and the Boston Bruins, including Olympic stars like BU's Charlie McAvoy (Class of 2016), beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-2, in the first game of the season's second act. 

Viktor Arvidsson tied the game up at 1-1 in the first period and Morgen Geekie scored a power-play goal in the second with assists by Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm.  Sean Kuraly made it 3-1, Boston, in the third and then Arvidsson scored an empty-netter to seal the win. Joonas Korpisalo made 36 saves on 38 shots (.947) in the net. 

The Bruins are 33-20-5, nine points back from first-place Tampa Bay. Right now, they qualify for the last  Wild Card playoff spot, four points ahead of the closest contender, Washington. 

What are you doing Saturday? The Bruins will be playing the Philadelphia Flyers (26-21-11) at 3:00  that afternoon, and the game will be nationally televised on ABC.