Bruins playoff pulse: what fans and bettors need before Thursday’s return vs. Blue Jackets

The bruins resume play after a 22-day Olympic pause with little margin for error: Boston holds the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot and Columbus is four points back, making Thursday’s 7 p. m. ET meeting at TD Garden an immediate checkpoint for both clubs. This matters first for fans and bettors who will weigh goaltending, roster availability and recent form into short-term decisions.

Bruins focus and roster status — what matters to supporters and wagerers

Here’s the part that matters: Boston re-enters the schedule with questions that affect game outcomes and betting lines. Marco Sturm emphasized a one-game-at-a-time approach, noting every point counts and that the team is glad to be back home. Charlie McAvoy, fresh from winning Olympic gold with Team USA at Milano Cortina 2026 on Sunday, skated in an optional morning session on Thursday but remains a game-time decision after returning to Boston early Wednesday morning. McAvoy has said the Olympics were a childhood dream come true and that he’s now refocusing on the final 25 regular-season games with the club.

Game specifics and immediate lineup news

Thursday’s matchup is scheduled for Feb. 26 at 7 p. m. ET at TD Garden. Joonas Korpisalo will start in net for Boston. Charlie McAvoy joined the optional morning skate Thursday and is listed as a potential game-time decision; head coach Marco Sturm spoke with the media before the Bruins’ return and reiterated the team will aim for short goals while keeping the bigger picture in mind. McAvoy has signaled excitement for the second half and an intent to switch focus back to the Bruins' push.

Blue Jackets form, depth and coach signals

Columbus arrives on a surge: the Blue Jackets have won seven straight and have taken 11 of 12, a run that has pulled them within four points of Boston for the final wild-card spot. The Jackets’ record stands at 29-20-7. Coach Rick Bowness used the Olympic break week for intensive practice work to rebuild timing and contact readiness; he stressed the need to regain competitive reads and highlighted that these upcoming games should feel like playoff contests because the Bruins do not yet have a guaranteed berth and Columbus is trying to catch them.

Practice detail matters here: the club focused on six-on-five scenarios with the goalie pulled and three-on-three drills, and Bowness opted for small system tweaks rather than an overhaul because of the team’s form before the break. Health is a notable advantage — the Blue Jackets are as healthy at this stage as they’ve been in many years — which has the coach confident in depth across four scoring lines. Boone Jenner, who was a first-line center and captain two seasons ago, is now centering the fourth line but still logs spot minutes and special teams shifts beyond a typical fourth-liner. Adam Fantilli emphasized "selflessness, " saying everyone must buy into the common goal of making the playoffs and that playoffs are what matter more than individual stats or contracts.

Odds, prediction snapshot and preview disclosures

A recent preview listed betting angles: ATS pick favoring Bruins (-1. 5), an Over/Under leaning Over (6. 5), and a score prediction of Bruins 4, Blue Jackets 2. That preview also noted it used automated tools and third-party game data and mentioned the page may contain affiliate links with potential compensation from betting partners. Use that as context when weighing early lines and market movement.

• Mini timeline: Olympic break lasted 22 days; McAvoy won Olympic gold on Sunday and returned to Boston early Wednesday; game is set for Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p. m. ET.
• Immediate implication: teams could be rusty early, but Columbus’s recent rhythm and Boston’s roster questions make the matchup tight.

The real question now is whether Boston’s home rest and personnel decisions — notably the netminder assignment and McAvoy’s availability — counter Columbus’s momentum and depth. Both clubs practiced specifics that aim to preserve points late in the season; expect an intense, physical tilt from the drop.

What’s easy to miss is the housekeeping edge Columbus gained from health and consistent lines; that behind-the-scenes stability has been a key driver of their climb into contention. For players returning from the Olympics, like the Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski, unclear in the provided context how much that factor will affect minutes or timing.

Sturm and several Bruins players addressed media during the return-to-play window, emphasizing short-term focus and the need to dial back in after international play. The coach’s tone was clear: there’s no easing into the schedule — these are playoff-level matches now.

Writer’s aside: It’s worth watching how quick special-teams preparation translates into game situations; practice work on six-on-five and three-on-three can show up on the scoreboard in late-game moments, especially when standings points are tight.