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Boston Bruins do battle with the Blue Jackets at home

By Chad Zimmermann

BOSTON - DECEMBER 18: Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) gets horizontal to block Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Josh Anderson's (77) shot during the third period. The Boston Bruins host the Columbus Blue Jackets in a regular season NHL hockey game at TD Garden in Boston on Dec. 18, 2017. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - DECEMBER 18: Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) gets horizontal to block Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Josh Anderson's (77) shot during the third period. The Boston Bruins host the Columbus Blue Jackets in a regular season NHL hockey game at TD Garden in Boston on Dec. 18, 2017. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Bruins are coming off what could be a season-defining victory.  Can they keep rolling against a team on a hot streak of their own?

All season, the Boston Bruins and the rest of the Eastern Conference have been chasing the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Having only played once this season (a Bruins win in November), Saturday’s game marked a chance for the Bruins to show the Lightning that they should be afraid of the Bruins come April.

The Bruins played a complete game against the cream of the crop in the NHL, and came out on top with a 3-0 shutout win.  It was the first time the Lightning had been shutout all season, and it came at the hands of the one team poised to knock them off the top spot in the Eastern Conference.  The next three weeks stand to be an incredible race to the finish line.

Boston Bruins
TAMPA, FL – MARCH 17: Boston Bruins right wing David Backes (42) celebrates with Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) after scoring a goal in the first period of the NHL game between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning on March 17, 2018 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Looking to keep pace with Tampa Bay, the Bruins head home briefly to take on the streaking Blue Jackets.  After scuttling, and finding themselves on the verge of being out of the playoff race, the Jackets have been on a hot streak of their own.  At 39-28-5 (83 points), the Jackets find themselves in the first wild card spot.

The who, what, when, and where

Tonight’s 7:00 pm game at the TD Garden in Boston, MA can be found on NESN.  The teams both come into the game 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, however, the Jackets are on a 7 game win streak.  The Bruins are safely locked into the playoffs, yet Columbus still has to be concerned with the charging Florida Panthers, who are fighting for an unlikely playoff berth.

Tonight marks the night many people have been waiting for.  The Bruins signed highly touted NCAA prospect Ryan Donato to a 2-year entry-level contract, and according to the team’s Twitter page, he will be making his debut tonight.  Donato had an impressive career at Harvard University, and will be following in his dad, Ted Donato’s, footsteps.

The Bruins will continue to be without the services of Patrice Bergeron, Charlie McAvoy, Zdeno Chara, and Jake DeBrusk.  Also missing with be David Backes, who is sidelined due to a nasty cut suffered in the last game.  The fact that the Bruins continue to win without such key pieces of the team is a testament to the organizational depth that the Bruins have compiled.

Tuukka Rask was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate.  Historically, that points to Rask being the starter for tonight’s game.  Rask is coming off that 3-0 shutout of Tampa Bay, his 3rd shutout of the season.  Columbus will be sending in their backup, Joonas Korpisalo, giving the edge in the goaltending department to Boston.

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