Bruins 4-2 Blue Jackets (Feb 26, 2026) Game Recap
The bruins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 on Thursday night in Boston in the teams' first game after the three-week break for the Olympics. Viktor Arvidsson scored twice and Joonas Korpisalo made 36 saves as Boston closed the night with a two-goal margin.
Scoring sequence and late goal
Viktor Arvidsson finished with two goals, including an empty-netter in the final minute after the Blue Jackets had pulled goalie Elvis Merzlikins with two minutes left. Morgan Geekie and Sean Kuraly also scored for Boston. Kuraly’s goal gave Boston a two-goal lead in the third period. Columbus pulled within one with six minutes left when Adam Fantilli ripped a shot from the high slot that cut the deficit.
Goalies, saves and evaluations
Joonas Korpisalo made 36 saves for the Bruins’ opponent in net during his stint, while Elvis Merzlikins made 19 saves for Columbus. Korpisalo briefly left the game in the second period after a collision with Columbus forward Miles Wood, who was whistled for interference. Michael DiPietro made two stops while Korpisalo was evaluated for a possible concussion.
Power play and key tallies
The collision and interference sequence presented the bruins with a power-play chance that resulted in Morgan Geekie’s 33rd goal of the season. Kirill Marchenko scored his 20th of the season for Columbus.
Olympic honors and bench moment
During a first-period stoppage, the Bruins honored the team’s representatives at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Highlights were shown on the video board, and the loudest ovation was reserved for Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman in recognition of Boston’s ties to the champion U. S. team. Jeremy Swayman wasn’t active Thursday, but he appeared on the bench and hugged Charlie McAvoy.
Pre-game notes, odds and picks
The matchup had been scheduled for TD Garden on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p. m. ET. Previews listed Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle as two of the top players to keep an eye on. The preview included betting-related details: an ATS pick of Bruins (-1. 5), an O/U pick of Over (6. 5), and a score prediction of Bruins 4 - Blue Jackets 2. The preview noted the page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners and that sign-ups or wagers could lead to compensation. It also noted the story was created using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
What’s next for Columbus
The Blue Jackets will host the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Final score: Boston 4, Columbus 2. The game marked both teams' first action after the three-week Olympic break, with key moments including Korpisalo’s midgame evaluation, Geekie’s 33rd, Marchenko’s 20th, and Arvidsson’s empty-net clincher in the final minute.
