Jets Look For Bounce Back Performance Against The Surging Bruins

The Winnipeg Jets returned home to a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets but will look to get back in the win column against a Boston Bruins team that has won four straight.

The Jets fell to the Blue Jackets 4-1 in what was a lacklustre effort. They started the game too slowly but took a 1-0 lead thanks to a power play goal, Kyle Connor's 15th goal of the season. The Blue Jackets answered back two minutes later, and Kent Johnson took over in the third period.

Related: Jets Fall to Jackets, Open Homestand with 4-1 Loss

The Bruins enter tonight's game on a four-game win streak, having beaten the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Philadelphia Flyers. All four teams are on the outside looking in when referring to the playoffs, but the Bruins took care of business against teams they are supposed to beat.

"I know I’ve been asked this, what did you say, three times," said HC Scott Arniel on the Bruins since the coaching change. "Guilt is probably the word I’m going to come with. Just the players, they’re playing a lot harder it seems, at times. They’re still a structured team. Joe’s been there a while. Long time with that group. They still are the Bruins, they have a way of playing, they haven’t changed a lot. They know that there’s areas they have to improve, and they’ve done that."

The Bruins feared superstar David Pastrnak could be out of the lineup with an upper-body injury but will play despite missing the team's practice on Monday. The 28-year-old hasn't been his normal self this season, scoring just nine goals in 29 games, but he remains one of the most dangerous players in the league, even if he is in a slump.

His recent slump hasn't forced him to shy away from shooting the puck. He currently sits third in the league among shots on goal, trailing Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk by two shots and Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon by one shot.

Throughout the Bruins' dominance over the years, they could always rely on their special teams to help them steal games or give them the advantage in close games. During the 2024-25 campaign, it's been the opposite. The Bruins' power play ranks 32nd in the league and their penalty kill ranks 19th and this is something the Jets should be able to exploit tonight.

Jeremy Swayman and Connor Hellebuyck will be teammates at the 4 Nations Face-Off for Team USA in February but tonight they'll be foes in what could be a spirited battle.

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