Published Feb 25, 3:53am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 25, 3:53am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Feb 25, 3:53am ET
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins return to action following the Winter Olympics break on Feb 26, with the hosts chasing a return to winning ways.
The pause in play may be a bonus for Boston, as they had suffered back-to-back losses before the break.
Meanwhile, it could be argued that the break came at the wrong time for the Blue Jackets, as they had won seven straight games to climb the Metropolitan Division.
The Boston Bruins looked like a team in need of a reset, meaning that the Winter Olympic break came at the perfect time for Marco Sturm. Boston’s defensive play was weak before the break, conceding nine regulation goals in eventual shootout losses against the Lightning and Panthers.
Being back at TD Garden will be a major plus to their chances, having gone 21-8-1 in home games this season. David Pastrnak will be a star to watch, with the alternate captain having recorded a team-high 70 points in 2025-26.
Canadian Morgan Geekie has also thrived this term, scoring 32 goals and contributing 21 assists.
Unlike the Bruins, the mid-season break couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Columbus has risen to fourth in the Metropolitan Division after seven straight wins, while they have suffered just a single defeat in their last ten. A sign of their progress was evident before the break, recording a 4-0 win overthe Chicago Blackhawks.
A major concern would be their record on the road, with the Blue Jackets having gone 14-12-3 on their travels. Zach Werenski is the team’s main offensive threat, but his tally of 19 goals is significantly lower than the top marksmen in the NHL.
| TOTAL | Blue Jackets | Bruins | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINS | 50 | 19 | 31 | - |
| GOALS | 288 | 126 | 162 |
The Blue Jackets were excellent before the Olympics, but their record on the road would temper expectations on Thursday. Therefore, the Bruins look like the obvious play, having won 66% of their previous clashes with Columbus at TD Garden.
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Pick
Boston Bruins
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