Bruins and Blue Jackets Face Off in Sunday NHL Matchup

Catch the game on NHL Network as two Eastern Conference teams battle it out on the ice.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:23pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color in shades of black, gold, and navy blue.The Bruins and Blue Jackets clash in a crucial late-season NHL matchup, with both teams fighting for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.Boston Today

The Boston Bruins will travel to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets in a Sunday evening NHL matchup. The Bruins currently sit in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, while the Blue Jackets are in 9th. Both teams will be looking to pick up crucial points as the playoff race heats up.

Why it matters

This game is an important one for both teams as they jockey for position in the tight Eastern Conference standings. A win could help either team solidify their playoff positioning, while a loss could make the road to the postseason more difficult.

The details

The game will be played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. The Bruins will be without defenseman Brendan Smith, who is out with a knee injury, while the Blue Jackets will be missing forward Dmitri Voronkov (hand), defenseman Mathieu Olivier (upper body), and Damon Severson (shoulder).

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET.

The players

Boston Bruins

An NHL team based in Boston, Massachusetts that currently sits in 7th place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Columbus Blue Jackets

An NHL team based in Columbus, Ohio that currently sits in 9th place in the Eastern Conference standings.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge game for both teams as they try to solidify their playoff positioning. The Bruins and Blue Jackets have had some great battles over the years, and I expect this one to be no different.”

— Analyst, NHL Network Analyst

What’s next

The winner of this game will gain valuable ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race, while the loser will need to rebound quickly to keep their postseason hopes alive.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Bruins and Blue Jackets is an important one for both teams as they look to solidify their position in the Eastern Conference standings and secure a spot in the NHL playoffs.