Columbus @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( May 8, 2019 ) Columbus 0, Boston 0

The Boston Bruins are tied for the second-highest point total in the NHL despite their maddening inability to squeeze out wins when the game goes beyond regulation. Coming off yet another shootout loss, the Bruins will look to extend their point streak to nine games when they return home to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

Boston sits atop the Atlantic Division despite losing all six shootouts and dropping 10 of 12 in the extra sessions following a 3-2 setback at New Jersey. "It's big points that you let slip by. We've got to rectify that," center Patrice Bergeron said after the Bruins blew a two-goal lead to dip to 0-6 in shootouts. "Obviously, you don't want to put yourself in that situation when you're up by a goal in the third ... but if you're in that position you've got to bear down." While Boston is dealing with its share of ailments, it pales in comparison to the Blue Jackets, who are missing nearly half their lineup due to an endless string of injuries. Still, Columbus is riding a season-high 11-game point streak (7-0-4) following a 4-1 victory over visiting Florida on New Year's Eve but will play five of its next six away from home.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, FS Ohio (Columbus), NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (18-14-8): Elvis Merzlikins picked the right time to earn his first NHL victory, turning aside 36 shots in the first game after Columbus learned that starting netminder Joonas Korpisalo would miss four to six weeks with a torn meniscus. It was the 11th appearance and ninth career start for the Latvian, who improved to 1-4-4. “I had 10 shots to do it, so finally it came," Merzlikins said. "I felt a little bit more pressure. It was really hard, but it's part of the experience and I'm really happy."

ABOUT THE BRUINS (24-7-10): Boston already was missing three defensemen before blue-liner Steven Kampfer had to exit Tuesday's game after blocking a shot. Coach Bruce Cassidy was hopeful that defenseman Torey Krug would be ready to rejoin that lineup Thursday and is taking a wait-and-see approach on Charlie McAvoy, who also skated Tuesday. Brad Marchand, who reached 20 goals for the seventh consecutive season in Tuesday's game, torched Columbus last season with four tallies and seven points in three meetings.

OVERTIME

1. Bruins All-Star G Tuukka Rask is 10-0-5 at home this season and 9-4-2 with a 2.67 goals-against average versus Columbus.

2. Blue Jackets F Alexandre Texier exited Tuesday's game in the first period due to an upper-body injury.

3. Bruins F David Pastrnak, the NHL's top goal scorer with 29, owns an eight-game point streak.

PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Blue Jackets 2