Boston @ Columbus preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 16, 2019 ) Columbus 1, Boston 2

Just as the Columbus Blue Jackets appeared ready to slide completely out of postseason contention, they have made a dramatic turnaround to surge into possession of the top wild card in the Eastern Conference. Columbus will aim for a season-high sixth consecutive victory and has a chance to clinch a playoff spot when it hosts the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

The Blue Jackets had lost three straight, including a 2-1 overtime loss at Boston, to fall three points out of the second wild card before responding with five straight victories and outscoring their opponents 24-4 in that span. "We know what's at stake for us with playoff positioning and even making the playoffs," defenseman Zach Werenski said. "We want to win every game for the rest of the season." The Bruins, meanwhile, have already locked up a spot in the postseason but three losses in their past four games have prevented them from clinching home ice for a first-round series. “I don’t know if its complacency with being in the playoffs," forward David Backes said. "I think we need to take a step back, take a breath, and know what kind of effort it takes to win in this league.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, TVAS, NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE BRUINS (47-23-9): After winning five of six, with the only loss a 5-4 setback at league-best Tampa Bay, Boston has been outscored 10-4 in back-to-back losses to Atlantic Division also-rans Florida and Detroit. Brad Marchand scored his seventh goal in 10 games to move without two points of becoming the first Bruin to reach 100 since Joe Thornton in 2002-03 and also set a franchise record by scoring the 26th short-handed tally of his career. David Krejci set up nine goals in nine games to move within one assist of his career high of 51 (2008-09).

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (45-30-4): Sergei Bobrovsky has been spectacular during Columbus' resurgence, earning the victory in all five games while posting three shutouts in that span to boost his league-leading total to nine. "Life pretty much forced us to be at our best because if you're not there, you're not going to make the playoffs," said Bobrovsky, who turned aside 134 of 138 shots during the winning streak. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner was named the league's First Star of the Week on Monday after going 4-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average.

OVERTIME

1. Columbus will clinch a playoff spot Tuesday with a win over Boston and a loss by Montreal to Tampa Bay.

2. Bruins C Patrice Bergeron has 15 points in his last 10 games, including a goal and an assist versus Columbus.

3. Blue Jackets F Artemi Panarin has set points in the past five games to set career highs in assists (56) and points (83).

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 4, Bruins 3