Bruins Stage Miraculous Comeback to Defeat Blue Jackets in Shootout

Boston overcomes 3-0 deficit in the third period to earn crucial road win

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:25am

The Boston Bruins staged an incredible comeback, erasing a 3-0 deficit in the third period to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in a shootout. Charlie McAvoy, Pavel Zacha (2 goals), Fraser Minten, and Viktor Arvidsson were the key contributors in the Bruins' thrilling victory.

Why it matters

This hard-fought win on the road is a major boost for the Bruins as they push for a playoff spot. Overcoming a large deficit and winning in a shootout shows the team's resilience and never-say-die attitude, qualities that will be crucial down the stretch.

The details

The Bruins fell behind 3-0 early, but clawed their way back in the third period. Charlie McAvoy got Boston on the board, and Pavel Zacha scored two power-play goals, including the game-tying goal with just 11 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. In the shootout, Fraser Minten and Viktor Arvidsson scored to give the Bruins the victory.

  • The Bruins scored three unanswered goals in the third period to tie the game.
  • Zacha scored the game-tying goal with 11 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
  • The Bruins outshot the Blue Jackets 6-2 in overtime, but were unable to score.
  • In the shootout, Minten and Arvidsson scored to give the Bruins the win.

The players

Charlie McAvoy

Bruins defenseman who scored the first goal to start the comeback.

Pavel Zacha

Bruins forward who scored two power-play goals, including the game-tying goal with 11 seconds left in regulation.

Fraser Minten

Bruins forward who scored in the first round of the shootout.

Viktor Arvidsson

Bruins forward who scored the game-winning goal in the shootout.

Jeremy Swayman

Bruins goaltender who made 21 saves and two more in the shootout to earn the win.

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What they’re saying

“You have to do those, like we have to have a game like tonight. We're down three going into the third, and we come back and win, where then you have belief in it. Like you almost have to earn that. Obviously, we've been resilient, and we do have a never-say-die attitude, but now it's like, for the stakes at the end of the year and moving forward.”

— Charlie McAvoy, Bruins Defenseman

“Those two are the true heroes tonight. Understanding the situation that we were in and stepping up and taking on two pretty big opponents. I respect the hell out of those guys. They've been pulling for us all year. So, really happy to get the win, especially for those two.”

— Jeremy Swayman, Bruins Goaltender

“Maybe one game is not enough, but they got us a big goal. We needed a little bit of life, both units. I'm glad they scored, and hopefully we can build on that.”

— Marco Sturm, Bruins Assistant Coach

What’s next

The Bruins will look to build on this comeback win when they host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday at TD Garden.

The takeaway

This thrilling victory showcases the Bruins' resilience and determination as they continue their push for the playoffs. The team's ability to overcome a large deficit and win in a shootout demonstrates the depth of character and never-say-die attitude that will serve them well in the final stretch of the season.