Bruins Rally in Third to Stun Blue Jackets in OT Shootout

McAvoy and Zacha lead Boston's comeback with three third-period goals

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:58am

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes in navy, crimson, and gold, abstractly depicting the action and movement of a hockey game.A cubist interpretation of the Bruins' dramatic comeback victory, capturing the raw energy and fractured perspectives of a high-stakes hockey game.Boston Today

The Boston Bruins overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period, scoring three unanswered goals to force overtime and eventually win in a shootout against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Charlie McAvoy and Pavel Zacha led the Bruins' comeback, with Zacha scoring the tying goal late in regulation to send the game to overtime.

Why it matters

The Bruins' resilient comeback and shootout victory showcases their ability to rally from behind and win close games, a crucial skill for a team looking to make a deep playoff run. The loss is another setback for the struggling Blue Jackets, who have now dropped several close games despite strong performances.

The details

The Blue Jackets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first and second periods on goals from Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment. But the Bruins stormed back in the third, with McAvoy scoring at 6:29 to make it 2-1. Zacha then tied the game at 8:43 with a power-play goal, and he scored again late in regulation to force overtime. In the shootout, the Bruins' Victor Arvidsson and Fabian Lysell scored while goalie Jeremy Swayman made the decisive saves.

  • The Bruins scored three unanswered goals in the third period to tie the game.
  • Zacha scored the tying goal with 1:17 remaining in regulation to force overtime.
  • The Bruins won the shootout 2-0 to secure the victory.

The players

Charlie McAvoy

Bruins defenseman who scored a crucial goal in the third period to spark the comeback.

Pavel Zacha

Bruins forward who scored two goals in the third period, including the tying goal late in regulation.

Jeremy Swayman

Bruins goaltender who made 21 saves and was perfect in the shootout to preserve the win.

Boone Jenner

Blue Jackets captain who scored the opening goal in the first period.

Mason Marchment

Blue Jackets forward who scored a goal and recorded an assist in the loss.

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What they’re saying

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

— Charlie McAvoy, Bruins Defenseman

“It's tough to lose another close one, but we have to keep our heads up and learn from these experiences.”

— Boone Jenner, Blue Jackets Captain

What’s next

The Bruins will look to continue their winning streak when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. The Blue Jackets will try to bounce back in their next game against the New York Rangers on Saturday.

The takeaway

The Bruins' thrilling comeback victory showcases their ability to rally from behind and win close games, a valuable trait for a team with playoff aspirations. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets' struggles to close out games highlight the need for more consistency and resilience as they aim to turn their season around.