Boston Bruins Prove They Can Close Out Third Period In Four-Game Win Streak

The Bruins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 Tuesday night at Nationwide arena and scored two third-period goals.

After a stretch of third-period collapses and inconsistent effort through 60 minutes, the Boston Bruins have proven they know how to close out hockey games.

Tuesday night’s 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena extended the B’s win streak to four games – all of which they have put away by two or more goals. Heading into the holiday break, Boston had lost five of its last six games and watched third-period leads turn into losses in three of those matchups.

However, the Bruins’ third line of James van Riemsdyk, Trent Frederic and Danton Heinen was able to extend its team’s lead against the Blue Jackets and provide important depth scoring that was missing in December.

“Really pleased. They played a big, heavy game and that third goal that extended the lead was huge for us,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said to reporters Tuesday.

Heinen gave Boston a 3-1 advantage at 7:29 of the final stanza when he knocked in the rebound of van Riemsdyk’s shot, and Frederic sealed the win at 15:54 with a wrister from the right side.

Frederic now has three goals in two games and van Riemsdyk – who assisted on the tally – ended the night with three points, including his own goal on the power play at 13:07 of the second period to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead heading into the third.

“Really good for him to get a goal – I think it had been a while since he had a goal. But he’s contributing to us and to our team game every night,” Montgomery said of van Riemsdyk. “Somehow he always ends up getting the play because he’s smart, he gets in the right areas.”

Boston has reignited its ability to rely on players up and down the lineup to get things done, and after early-season struggles, Kevin Shattenkirk has stepped up on both ends of the ice. The veteran defenseman opened scoring at 2:12 of the middle frame, marking his third goal in three games and fifth of the season.

His production and heightened attention to detail in the D-zone is one of a handful of things helping the Bruins earn convincing, regulation wins right now.

“I think the key is we’re just staying aggressive,” Shattenkirk said to reporters Tuesday. “Whether we are up by a goal or a team comes back and ties it, we know that our game… Now it seems like we are getting those insurance goals to close games out.”

Instead of falling into the trap of a third period drop off, Boston has carried its high-flying, grinding and opportunistic identity into the final seconds of the last four games – three of which have been on the road.

“Going into the break I think we were definitely – thought we were playing a little bit uneven going into that – so I think coming out of that we really took advantage of that as far as taking a reset and getting back to the things that make us successful,” van Riemsdyk said to reporters Tuesday.

It seems the Bruins have a pretty good understanding of who they are and what they are made of coming into 2024. The group will look to build on its hot streak Thursday night at TD Garden when the Pittsburgh Penguins come to town for a 7 p.m. puck drop.