Bruins, Blue Jackets Meet in Columbus with Playoff Implications on the Line COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — The Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets, two teams on the fringe of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, will face off Sunday at Nationwide Arena in a late-season clash with potential postseason ramifications. The visiting Bruins (43-37-0) arrive after a narrow 2-1 home loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, their fourth consecutive defeat. Boston’s recent skid has tightened the race for the final wild-card spots. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman, expected to start, has been busy but has struggled to secure wins lately, dropping his last four decisions despite facing an average of over 23 shots per game. In the teams’ most recent meeting on March 29, Boston edged Columbus 4-3 in a shootout. The Blue Jackets (39-40-0), officially eliminated from playoff contention after Thursday’s 5-0 loss in Buffalo, will look to play spoiler in their home finale. Defenseman Egor Zamula will be a key figure on a Columbus blue line tasked with containing Boston’s top forwards. The Blue Jackets have lost three of their last four, including a 5-1 defeat to Carolina on April 2. While Boston holds the season series edge, winning two of three meetings this year, both contests have been decided by a single goal. The Bruins will need to reverse a troubling trend of low offensive output during their losing streak, having scored just four total goals in their last four games. Morgan Geekie, who scored Boston’s lone goal Saturday, will be relied upon for secondary scoring. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the projection favors Columbus 3-2. The result could critically impact Boston’s trajectory as they return home to host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. Columbus will conclude its season at home against the Washington Capitals that same night. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT.