Bruins Stage Epic Comeback, Defeat Blue Jackets in Shootout

Boston rallies from three-goal deficit to win 4-3 in dramatic fashion

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:57am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors capturing the raw energy and dramatic moments of a hockey game, with players' faces and the puck blending into unrecognizable splatters of paint, conveying the intensity and excitement of the Bruins' comeback victory.The Bruins' thrilling comeback win over the Blue Jackets exemplifies the NHL's new era of resilient, high-drama finishes.Boston Today

In a thrilling NHL matchup, the Boston Bruins overcame a three-goal deficit against the Columbus Blue Jackets, staging a dramatic comeback to win 4-3 in a shootout. The Bruins scored twice in the third period to tie the game and then prevailed in the skills competition, with Viktor Arvidsson netting the decisive goal.

Why it matters

This game showcases the Bruins' resilience and ability to adapt their game plan on the fly, keeping them in the playoff hunt in a tight wild-card race. It also highlights the importance of power-play execution, goaltending, and depth scoring in the modern NHL, where comebacks and shootout victories can make the difference in the standings.

The details

The Blue Jackets jumped out to a 3-0 lead, with Charlie Coyle scoring on the power play. However, the Bruins stormed back in the third period, with Pavel Zacha netting two power-play goals to tie the game. The dramatic tying goal came with just 11 seconds left in regulation. In the shootout, Arvidsson scored the winner for Boston, while Fraser Minten also scored for the Bruins.

  • The Blue Jackets led 3-0 after the first period.
  • The Bruins scored two power-play goals in the third period, 2:14 apart, to tie the game.
  • The Bruins scored the winning goal in the shootout.

The players

Pavel Zacha

A Bruins forward who scored two power-play goals in the third period to tie the game.

Viktor Arvidsson

A Bruins forward who scored the decisive goal in the shootout to give Boston the win.

Jeremy Swayman

The Bruins' goaltender, who made 21 saves to keep his team in the game.

Boone Jenner

The Blue Jackets' captain, who played in his 800th NHL game.

Charlie Coyle

A Blue Jackets forward who scored a power-play goal to give Columbus an early lead.

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What they’re saying

“We never gave up, even when we were down three goals. That's the kind of resilience this team has shown all season.”

— Pavel Zacha, Bruins Forward

“It's tough to let a lead like that slip away, but credit to the Bruins for their fight. We'll need to learn from this and find ways to close out games against top teams.”

— Boone Jenner, Blue Jackets Captain

What’s next

The Bruins will look to build on this comeback win when they face the Dallas Stars in their next game on April 15th.

The takeaway

This game showcases the Bruins' ability to adapt their game plan and never give up, even when facing a significant deficit. It highlights the importance of power-play execution, goaltending, and depth scoring in the modern NHL, where resilience and the ability to turn adversity into momentum can make the difference in a tight playoff race.