Boston Bruins vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Boston has won eight out of 10 meetings, but the Bruins remember a 5-1 loss to the Blue Jackets the last time they met on Nov. 18. That was the game that got coach Jim Montgomery fired, and Joe Sacco took over the reins. Boston has won 11 of 16 since that game, including 4-1 over Washington on Monday. Elias Lindholm scored with 6:19 left to break a third-period tie, and the Bruins killed a five-minute penalty without allowing a shot on goal. The Capitals had only 11 shots on goal for the whole game, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 10. Swayman is expected to start tonight and has allowed three or fewer goals in his past four starts. Elvis Merzlikins is confirmed for Columbus and has a 3.13 goals-against average. Merzlikins has allowed 16 goals in his past four appearances, including five in a 5-4 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. Boston has won five straight against Eastern Conference teams, and the Blue Jackets have lost nine of their past 12 games. Columbus has lost four of its past five home games against Boston, which is 6-0 after allowing two or fewer goals in its previous game. Take the Bruins as my Game of the Year Max Play.

Boston has won seven of the past eight meetings, including 3-1 on Dec. 3 after the Blue Jackets had won the first meeting 5-2 the previous week. The Bruins are on a three-game win streak after downing Detroit 5-3 on Sunday as Trent Frederic scored twice and Jeremy Swayman had 27 saves. Linus Ullmark is likely tonight in net for Boston and he is 11-5-2 with a 2.82 GAA and .914 save percentage. Columbus has lost four of five and four of them went into overtime, including a 3-2 loss at Buffalo on Saturday. Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins is 7-8-6 with a 3.24 GAA and a .907 save percentage. The Blue Jackets are #30 in the NHL in goals allowed (3.66 per game) compared to #5 (2.60) for Boston. The Blue Jackets have lost four of five at home. Take the Bruins as a Max Play. 

Columbus has been playing better than it has all season winning four of six, including 4-2 over Ottawa on Friday when Patrik Laine and Boone Jenner had power-play goals and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 41 shots for the Blue Jackets, who were outshot 43-23. Merzlikins has won three of his past five starts with a 2.40 goals-against average in that span. Boston is playing a back-to-back after having to go overtime to defeat Toronto 4-3 on Saturday night. The Bruins have lost four of seven and Columbus is getting huge line value in this game. Jeremy Swayman is probable in net for the Bruins and he has lost three of his past four starts while allowing 11 goals.Take the Blue Jackets.