Blue Jackets Aim to Slow Down Bruins' Pastrnak

Columbus hosts Boston in key Eastern Conference matchup

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:24pm

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The Columbus Blue Jackets will try to cool off Boston Bruins star forward David Pastrnak when the two teams meet on Sunday. Pastrnak is riding a 12-game point streak and had two assists in the Bruins' 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. The Blue Jackets are looking to bounce back after a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

Why it matters

This is a crucial game for both teams as they battle for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins currently hold the first wild-card spot, three points ahead of the Blue Jackets. A win for Columbus could help them catch up in the standings.

The details

The Bruins (41-24-8, 90 points) are 4-1-0 in their past five games and are led by Pastrnak's hot streak. The Blue Jackets (38-24-11, 87 points) have lost three of their past four games. Columbus forward Dmitri Voronkov left Saturday's game with an upper-body injury and will not play on Sunday.

  • The Bruins and Blue Jackets first met on February 26, with Boston winning 4-2.
  • The teams will play again on April 12.

The players

David Pastrnak

A star forward for the Boston Bruins who is currently riding a 12-game point streak.

Andrew Peeke

A defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets who is a former member of the team.

Igor Chernyshov

A forward for the San Jose Sharks who scored the game-winning goal against the Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Denton Mateychuk

A defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets who scored a goal in Saturday's loss.

Cole Sillinger

A forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets who scored a goal in Saturday's loss.

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What they’re saying

“Hopefully, we can use that momentum into (Sunday's game). They're right in the race, too. It's a big matchup for both teams, and it's exciting. That's what makes this part of the year fun — being in that hunt. Every game feels like a playoff game, and that's really exciting.”

— Andrew Peeke, Defenseman

“It was a complete 60-minute effort. Every line brought something to the table — could be a fight, could be a goal, whatever it is. Sway in net, outstanding again. That's who we are, and that's what I like the most.”

— Marco Sturm, Head Coach

“We just didn't have our legs. What these guys have to learn is when you don't have your legs, you try to simplify the game a little bit. And even though we didn't have our legs, we're still trying to make plays that just weren't there.”

— Rick Bowness, Head Coach

“They're (San Jose) fighting for their lives too, just as we are, so they were the better team tonight. They were on top of us. We didn't really get many opportunities to be on the offensive side of those physical altercations.”

— Erik Gudbranson, Defenseman

What’s next

The Blue Jackets will need to find a way to slow down Pastrnak and the high-powered Bruins offense if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. The teams will meet again on April 12 in what could be another crucial matchup.

The takeaway

This game highlights the tight race in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, with the Blue Jackets and Bruins both fighting for position. Columbus will need to regroup quickly and focus on containing Pastrnak if they want to keep pace with their division rivals.