“We got away from being aggressive, and I thought we got very selfish with the puck,” said Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness after his team fell to the Boston Bruins 4-3 in a shootout on March 29, 2026.
The game began with Boone Jenner scoring the first goal for the Blue Jackets at 6:17 of the first period, followed by a power-play goal from Charlie Coyle just before the period ended. The Blue Jackets appeared to be in control, leading 3-0 at one point.
However, the Bruins mounted a remarkable comeback, recording their ninth three-goal, third-period comeback in franchise history. Charlie McAvoy ignited the rally with a goal at 6:29 of the third period, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
Pavel Zacha delivered the game-tying goal with just 11 seconds remaining in regulation, capping off the Bruins’ impressive comeback. “Zacha delivered with his second goal of the game and his NHL-leading 13th goal in the month of March,” noted analysts.
Jeremy Swayman was instrumental in the victory, making 21 saves, including 12 straight saves that helped the Bruins secure the win in the shootout. His performance was crucial, especially after the Bruins had not achieved a three-goal comeback since March 13, 2018.
Despite the loss, Mason Marchment contributed significantly for the Blue Jackets with a goal and an assist, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win. The Blue Jackets now hold a record of 38-24-12, while the Bruins improved to 41-24-8.
David Pastrnak’s point streak ended at 12 games, a notable statistic for the star player who has scored 29 goals this season. Meanwhile, Mason Lohrei did not play due to an upper-body injury, and Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier also left the game with an upper-body injury.
As the season progresses, both teams will look to build on this game, with the Bruins showcasing their resilience and the Blue Jackets needing to regroup after a tough loss.
