Boston Bruins end Columbus Blue Jackets' seven-game winning streak

Former Blue Jackets Joonas Korpisalo and Sean Kuraly play key roles in Bruins' victory

Feb. 27, 2026 at 2:50am

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The Columbus Blue Jackets' seven-game winning streak came to an end on February 26 as they fell 4-2 to the Boston Bruins. Former Blue Jackets players Joonas Korpisalo and Sean Kuraly played pivotal roles for the Bruins, with Korpisalo earning the goaltending win and Kuraly scoring a key third-period goal. The Blue Jackets took an early 1-0 lead but were unable to hold on as the Bruins rallied with three unanswered goals.

Why it matters

This loss drops the Blue Jackets six points behind the Bruins for the second wild-card playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference, making their path to the postseason more difficult. The game also featured several storylines involving former Blue Jackets players, adding an extra layer of drama to the matchup.

The details

The Blue Jackets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Kirill Marchenko, but the Bruins responded with three unanswered goals, including a tally by former Blue Jacket Sean Kuraly. The Bruins' goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who previously played for the Blue Jackets, made 36 saves to earn the win. The Blue Jackets pulled within 3-2 late in the third period on a goal by Adam Fantilli, but the Bruins sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.

  • The game was played on February 26, 2026.
  • Marchenko opened the scoring for the Blue Jackets just 4:32 into the first period.
  • Kuraly scored the go-ahead goal for the Bruins with 8:45 left in the third period.
  • Fantilli pulled the Blue Jackets within 1 goal with 6:15 remaining in the third period.
  • Arvidsson scored an empty-net goal with 33 seconds left to seal the Bruins' victory.

The players

Joonas Korpisalo

The Boston Bruins' goaltender, who previously played for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Sean Kuraly

A forward for the Boston Bruins, who previously played for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Kirill Marchenko

A forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets who scored the team's first goal.

Adam Fantilli

A forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets who scored a late goal to pull the team within one.

Viktor Arvidsson

A forward for the Boston Bruins who scored two goals, including the empty-net goal to seal the victory.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game highlighted the continued rivalry between the Blue Jackets and Bruins, as well as the impact that former players can have when facing their old teams. The Blue Jackets' loss puts them in a tougher position to secure a playoff spot, but they will have opportunities to make up ground in the remaining games of the season.