Bruins defeat Blue Jackets in James Hagens's debut

Sean Kuraly's three-point night leads Boston to victory over Columbus.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:02am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with sharp planes of blue, white, and yellow overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract scene.The Bruins' victory over the Blue Jackets showcases the intensity and unpredictability of NHL action through a cubist lens.Boston Today

The Boston Bruins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 in a close game on Sunday night. Bruins forward Sean Kuraly scored a goal and recorded two assists to lead his team to victory in the debut game for new Blue Jackets head coach James Hagens.

Why it matters

This was an important early-season matchup between two teams expected to compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins' win over the Blue Jackets in Hagens's first game as head coach could set the tone for the rest of the season in the competitive Metropolitan Division.

The details

The Bruins jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Kuraly and Brad Marchand. The Blue Jackets battled back to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period, but Kuraly set up the game-winning goal by David Pastrnak in the third period to secure the victory for Boston.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 13, 2026.
  • This was the debut game for new Blue Jackets head coach James Hagens.

The players

Sean Kuraly

A forward for the Boston Bruins who scored a goal and recorded two assists in the win.

James Hagens

The new head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, making his debut in this game.

Brad Marchand

A forward for the Boston Bruins who scored a goal in the win.

David Pastrnak

A forward for the Boston Bruins who scored the game-winning goal in the third period.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It was a tough game, but I'm proud of the way our guys battled back to tie it up. We just couldn't quite get over the top in the end.”

— James Hagens, Head Coach, Columbus Blue Jackets

“Sean was a beast out there tonight. He really set the tone for us and made some huge plays to get us this win.”

— Brad Marchand, Forward, Boston Bruins

What’s next

The Bruins will look to build on this win as they continue their road trip, while the Blue Jackets will try to rebound in Hagens's second game as head coach.

The takeaway

This was an exciting early-season matchup between two Eastern Conference contenders, with the Bruins' depth and experience proving to be the difference in the end. The Blue Jackets showed fight in Hagens's debut, but will need to find a way to close out close games like this one.