The Bruins smother the Blue Jackets

Swayman's shutout keeps Boston's flame burning

First against thirty-first

Qualification night lit all 32 candles, and this pairing could hardly have been more lopsided on paper. The Boston Bruins finished 1st of 32 last season. The Columbus Blue Jackets finished 31st. Neither had any Gauntlet past to lean on, and one of them would go dark before the night was out.

This was a virtual match. Each team played its own game against a club from the West, and the one that scored more went through.

Swayman shuts the door

At United Center, the Bruins buried the Chicago Blackhawks. Pavel Zacha broke the deadlock at 3:50 of the second with a deflected shot, set up by Kevin Shattenkirk and Jake DeBrusk. Then the third period exploded. Matthew Poitras snapped a wrist shot home at 4:06, and Trent Frederic followed with a wrister just 0:56 later. Petr Mrazek made 40 saves for Chicago and still lost. At the other end, Jeremy Swayman stopped all 23 shots he faced.

Columbus can't keep pace

At Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets twice led the Anaheim Ducks. Emil Bemstrom ripped a power-play slap shot at 16:49 of the first. Ryan Strome tied it on a backhand. Adam Fantilli restored the lead with a wrister at 9:13 of the third, but Brett Leason answered at 16:13, and Frank Vatrano won it 2:20 into overtime. Columbus finished with two goals. Boston had three. The Blue Jackets' candle was snuffed, and 22 flames still burn.