Need to Know: Bruins vs. Blue Jackets

The bruins return to TD Garden after a 22-day Olympic break for a 7 p. m. ET matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets, a game that immediately matters as Boston holds the second wild-card spot and Columbus trails by four points.

Bruins' return to TD Garden after 22-day Olympic break

Boston’s game against Columbus on Thursday marks the end of a 22-day pause for the Bruins. Joonas Korpisalo will start in net for Boston at TD Garden in the 7 p. m. ET puck drop, and head coach Marco Sturm warned there is no easing in: “It’s getting closer to the end, and that means every point counts. I realize that, we all realize that. Again, our focus will [still] be on game by game. Just have short little goals, then the big picture. ” Sturm added, “It’s time. I think for all of us, even watching games yesterday, it feels like a new season already. I’m glad the time is here, the game is here, I’m glad we are home. And I’m glad to get things going again. ”

Lineup notes: Korpisalo to start; McAvoy a game-time decision

Charlie McAvoy joined the Bruins for an optional morning skate on Thursday after earning a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Sunday. Sturm said McAvoy would be a game-time decision after getting back to Boston early Wednesday morning. McAvoy called winning in Milan “so hard to win in this game” and said, “Now I have a win there on my record. Hopefully, a Stanley Cup isn’t too far behind. ” He also emphasized refocusing on the final 25 regular-season games: “You have to dial back in and realize what this team has done so far this year… There is so much left to play for this year. Switching back to putting the B on. I’m really excited for the second half. ” McAvoy talked after the Bruins returned to action tonight against CBJ, and Sturm talked with the media before BOS vs. CBJ.

Blue Jackets’ hot run and standings push

Columbus has won seven straight and 11 of its last 12 games, a stretch that has pulled the Blue Jackets to within four points of the Bruins for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets (29-20-7) have also closed to within four points of the New York Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Columbus faces Boston on Thursday and then hosts the Islanders on Saturday in its first home game since the Olympic break.

Coach Bowness on practice, systems and preparation

Coach Rick Bowness said the Blue Jackets spent the past week practicing hard to get legs and lungs back into shape and to regain competitive timing: “The challenges are to get that competitive spirit back and get your reads down, the timing, the physical contact, ” he said. Bowness noted the difference between practice and game contact—“In practice, you’re going to take a guy out of the play (with a routine check). In Boston (on Thursday), you’re going to get hit. ”—and warned that “these are playoff games for both teams. They (the Bruins) don’t have a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. We’re trying to catch them. The intensity should be there. ” He had planned substantive changes to Columbus’s systems but opted for small tweaks after how the Jackets played before the break.

Depth, drills and lineup adjustments in Columbus

Columbus worked on six-on-five play with the goalie pulled and three-on-three drills during the week because, Bowness said, “every single point the rest of the way is going to be crucial. ” The Blue Jackets are as healthy as they have been all season and, Bowness added, as healthy at this point in many years—allowing confidence in depth and all four scoring lines. Boone Jenner, a captain and their first-line center just two seasons ago, is now centering the fourth line while picking up minutes spot duty and special teams. First-line center Adam Fantilli emphasized the team’s focus: “For me, the biggest word for us right now is selflessness. It’s got to be everybody buying into the common goal of making the playoffs. Playoffs are all that matter, not our stats, not contracts, nothing like that. ” Bowness cautioned play might be a bit ragged for both the Jackets and Bruins as rust forms quickly in the NHL; he stressed the Bruins are in the same boat, with players coming back from the Olympics like Zach Werenski.

Prediction notes, players to watch and game details

The matchup is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p. m. ET at TD Garden. Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle were highlighted as two of the top players to watch for the Bruins. A game-day prediction page listed an ATS pick of Bruins (-1. 5), an Over/Under of 6. 5 with an Over pick, and a score prediction of Bruins 4, Blue Jackets 2.

What’s next: the teams meet Thursday at 7 p. m. ET at TD Garden; Columbus returns home to host the Islanders on Saturday, and Boston will move into the final 25 regular-season games as the league resumes post-Olympics.