Three Things: Tarasov Returns To Net, Turnovers, Road Struggles Continue

By Will Chase on December 29, 2024 at 8:15 am
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) is called for a penalty on Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) during the third period at TD Garden.
© Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
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A flat Saturday night performance.

Jeremy Swayman made all 18 saves as the Boston Bruins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 on Saturday night at TD Garden.

The shutout is the second for Swayman this year and the 14th of his career.

Morgan Geekie had two points with a goal and an assist.

The loss snapped the Blue Jackets’ four-game points streak and extended a four-game road losing streak (0-3-1).

Columbus fell to 0-6-0 in the second of back-to-back games this season. Boston has won six straight at home and finished the month of December with a perfect 6-0-0 home record.

Tarasov Returns To Net

Daniil Tarasov made his first start since Dec. 5, a 6-3 loss at the Edmonton Oilers.

The stats don’t do much to defend Tarasov’s Saturday performance. He made 24 saves on 28 shots for a .857 save percentage and fell to 3-6-1 on the year with a .857 save percentage and 4.23 goals against average.

It’s a tough situation when one hasn’t played in nearly a month and you have to face the same team that was humiliated 6-2 24 hours prior.

So we’ll see how the Blue Jackets continue navigating the crease between Tarasov, Jet Greaves who is currently in Cleveland, and of course Elvis Merzlikins.

Across 10 starts, Tarasov has only allowed fewer than two goals once, the 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 22.

Damon Severson Benched Again

Tarasov wasn’t perfect in the net and it’s tough to be when your defense makes turnovers in front of you.

That happened on the Bruins’ second goal of the game by Geekie (8) at 6:29 of the second period to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead unassisted.

Severson was benched after the turnover and didn’t play the rest of the second period before returning for the third period and playing 11:40 for the game.

Severson was recently a healthy scratch two games ago in the Blue Jackets’ win over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.

He also fought Nikita Zadorov at 6:43 of the third after his hit on Charlie McAvoy.

Road Struggles Continue

With the loss, Columbus falls to 4-12-3 away from Nationwide Arena.

Imagine where they would be if you added just four wins to that total from the loss column. Columbus entered the day two points outside of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and that's where they remain.

With no offense to speak of for the visitors, Werenski and Kirill Marchenko led the way with four shots each for Columbus. Columbus had a four-minute second-period power play after Kastelic's high stick on Sean Kuraly.

The 4-0 loss marks the second time this season the Jackets have been shut out. They were also blanked in a 3-0 loss at the Calgary Flames on Dec. 3.

The only positive is the Columbus penalty kill stayed strong, killing both Boston power plays to make it five straight games (10-of-10) without allowing a goal and 16-of-17 since Dec. 12.

New Year’s Eve

The Blue Jackets end 2024 with a New Year’s Eve bash with the Carolina Hurricanes. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET at Nationwide Arena.

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