Bruins snap 4-game skid with 3-2 shootout win over Columbus

The Bruins snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 shootout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets behind a 34-save performance by Tuukka Rask at Nationwide Arena in Cloumbus, Ohio on Tuesday night.

Grant Clitsome's slap shot from the high slot gave Columbus a 1-0 lead with 53 seconds left in the game's opening period. Jakub Voracek and Rick Nash picked up the helpers on Clitsome's 4th goal of the season.

The Bruins evened things up at 1-1 on a goal from David Krejci with 7:40 left in the second. Milan Lucic had the puck in the right wing corner and battled to keep possession along the boards before sending the puck back to Johnny Boychuk at the right point. Boychuk quickly slid the puck to his blue line partner Zdeno Chara at the left point. Chara unloaded a hard slapper that was deflected in by David Krejci in the slot.

The Blue Jackets re-claimed the lead  12:19 into the third period. Antoine Vermette's centering pass from the left wing bounced through the slot before R.J. Umberger settled the puck at the left post. Tuukka Rask went down to the ice anticipating a shot from Umberger, but Umberger sent the puck to Scottie Upshall in slot. Upshall had an open net to shot at for his 20th goal of the season.

With Nathan Horton in the box for a holding the stick minor with 5:36 left to play in the third period, Rich Peverley rush the puck to the net and jammed home a shorthanded goal to reset the game for the Bruins.

The Blue Jackets came within inches of putting the game away in overtime, but Tomas Kaberle was able to bat a puck off the goal line after it had got through Tuukka Rask to keep the Bruins chances alive.

With the game still knotted at 2-2 after 65 minutes of play, it was off to the shootout:

Columbus: Rick Nash's bid was kicked out with the left pad by Tuukka Rask.

Boston: Tyler Seguin faked a bankhander and tucked the puck past Steve Mason on the forehand. [GOAL]

Columbus: Fedor Tyutin skated straight in and held the puck in front of him for what  seemed like forever before missing wide left.

Boston: Bergeron's shot was squeezed between pads by Mason. Video review showed no evidence that the puck crossed the goal line.

Columbus: Scottie Upshall missed wide and high on a backhand attempt to cement the win for the Bruins.

Notes:

- Mark Recchi laced up his skates for his 1,640th NHL game to move past Dave Andreychuk for 5th all-time. Only Gordie Howe, Mark Messier, Ron Francis, and Chris Chelios have played in more games than Recchi.

- Tyler Seguin was back in the line-up tonight. Michael Ryder was the healthy scratch for the B's. This was the first time since being signed by the Bruins that Ryder was a healthy scratch.

- Steven Kampfer (concussion) returned to the lineup tonight.

- Tuukka Rask robbed Derek Dorsett from point blank range to keep it a 1-1 game midway through the third period after Rask has misplayed the puck.

- The game was dealyed in overtime for a few minutes after Zdeno Chara's shot broke a pane of glass behind the Columbus net.

- The Bruins killed off all 6 Columbus power plays.

- The Bruins spent a grand total of 5 seconds on the power play tonight. Their one power play opportunity (Antoine Vermette hooking minor in first period) was cancelled out when Patrice Bergeron was whistled for interference on the face-off after Vermette's penalty.

- Patrice Bergeron did not look good in the face-off circle tonight, which is rare for him. He won 6 of 14 (43%), took a costly interference call while trying to tie up his opponent, and was thrown out of the circle on at least one occasion.

- The Bruins are back in action on Thursday night when they travel to Nashville for a St. Patrick's Day showdown with the Predators.

- For more on tonight's game for a Blue Jackets fan perspective, The Cannon has you covered.

Oh, what the hell...