While You Were Watching College Football, Bruins Beat Blue Jackets 3-1

If I had my way, there would never be any afternoon games in the NHL. I probably want that since it seems like the Bruins never play well during the day. In their first road game of the season, the B's won 3-1 this afternoon over the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.

Boston (3-1-0) played like they didn't want to be there for the first 20 minutes as Columbus (2-2-0) made it 1-0 at 18:52 on Jack Johnson's power play goal. From there, Tuukka Rask (26 saves) and Co. woke up. The B's allowed one goal for the fourth straight contest. They were helped out by a leaky Sergei Bobrovsky (33 saves) who don't forget won the Vezina Trophy last season (that'll be a great trivia question some day).

Chris Kelly's slap shot from just inside the blue line found its way through Bobrovsky's legs at 16:18 of the second period. Jarome Iginla and David Krejci had the assists on Kelly's second goal of the season, the former's first point as a Bruin. NHL goaltenders let alone ones that are supposed to be among the best should always make that save, no excuse.

Perhaps to prove that Kelly's goal wasn't a fluke, Bobrovsky allowed another questionable tally when Loui Eriksson's slow motion one-timed backhander (when do you ever see those?) went past him 49 seconds into the third. Eriksson's first goal as a Bruin turned out to be the game-winner, a fitting reward since he could have easily had another goal or two (one shot off the post). Patrice Bergeron and Reilly Smith were credited with the assists.

All that was left for the not ready for primetime Blue Jackets was a gift empty netter for Milan Lucic. Columbus couldn't clear the puck out of its own end and it ended up going off Looch's skate and into the net. Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk had the assists on Lucic's second goal of the season.

Since it is Columbus Day, Monday's game is also in the afternoon (1, NESN) but at least it is against a legitimate opponent: Detroit (2-2) who will be looking to answer for the 4-1 beating the B's threw them last Saturday.

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