Bruins return to TD Garden as Blue Jackets ride seven-game streak

Boston’s NHL break is over and the bruins open a critical stretch Thursday night when Joonas Korpisalo starts in net at TD Garden. The matchup matters because both teams are jockeying for playoff position as the season moves toward its final weeks.

Korpisalo to start; game set for Feb. 26 at 7 p. m. ET

Joonas Korpisalo will start in net for Boston on Thursday at TD Garden, with the matchup scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p. m. ET. Boston returns to game action after a 22-day Olympic break, and the club described its home return as the start of the second half of the season.

Playoff positioning: Bruins hold second wild-card, Blue Jackets four points back

The bruins hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Columbus Blue Jackets trail Boston by four points for that final wild-card berth. Columbus pulled to within four points by winning 11 of their last 12 games, a run that includes a seven-game winning streak and has also moved them within four points of the New York Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Blue Jackets’ preparations: Bowness kept tweaks, emphasized drills and health

Columbus coach Rick Bowness said the Blue Jackets (29-20-7) spent the past week practicing hard to get legs and lungs back into playing shape after the Olympic break. Bowness said the challenges are regaining competitive spirit, reads, timing and physical contact, noting that practice removes players from plays while games include hits and full contact.

Bowness had planned substantive changes to systems, including the power play and penalty kill, but the Jackets’ play before the break prompted small tweaks rather than an overhaul. Practices included intense skating drills, work on six-on-five play with the goaltender pulled, and three-on-three drills because every point the rest of the way will be crucial. Bowness added that the club is as healthy as it has been all season and as healthy at this stage in many years, which has him feeling good about depth and all four scoring lines.

Boone Jenner, who was captain and the team’s first-line center two seasons ago, is now centering the fourth line while picking up minutes through spot duty and special teams. First-line center Adam Fantilli stressed selflessness, saying the team must buy into the common goal of making the playoffs and that playoffs are all that matter, not stats or contracts.

Olympic returns: Charlie McAvoy’s gold, game-time decision and focus on final 25 games

Charlie McAvoy joined the Bruins for an optional morning skate on Thursday after winning a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Sunday. McAvoy called representing the United States a childhood dream come true and said it is hard to win at that level; now that he has that win on his record, he hopes a Stanley Cup “isn’t too far behind. ”

Head coach Marco Sturm said McAvoy would be a game-time decision after getting back to Boston early Wednesday morning. McAvoy said he must dial back in, recognize what the team has done so far this year and refocus on the final 25 regular-season games. Both McAvoy and Sturm spoke with the media ahead of the Bruins’ return to action against Columbus.

Predictions, odds and players to watch for Bruins vs. Blue Jackets

Pre-game projections list the bruins as the favorite with an ATS pick of Bruins (-1. 5), an Over/Under pick of Over (6. 5), and a score prediction of Bruins 4, Blue Jackets 2. Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle were highlighted as two players to watch in the matchup.

Coaches on both sides warned the opener could be a bit ragged as teams shake off Olympic rust; Bowness noted the intensity on Thursday will feel like playoff games for both clubs because the Bruins do not have a guaranteed playoff spot and Columbus is trying to catch them.