Bruins credit two nasty fights for sparking comeback vs. Blue Jackets

Story by

Story by
Bruins credit two nasty fights for sparking comeback vs. Blue Jackets

Matt Vautour · MassLive

Mon, Mar 30, 2026 ·

2 min read

About Our Ads

With the Bruins in the midst of a flat effort in game with a lot on the line, Tanner Jeannot tried to spark his teammates.

With 2:25 left in the first period. Boston ’s 6-foot-2, 221-pound fourth-line wing, who was signed in the offseason to make the Bruins more physically imposing, picked a fight with 6-foot-5, 222-pound Columbus defenseman Erik Gudbranson .

The two men squared off for a nasty fight with several heavy shots before both were sent to the penalty box with 5-minute majors. Just seconds after the ensuing faceoff, Mark Kastelic and Mathieu Olivier got after it in an equally nasty tilt.

Olivier appeared to get the better of that fight in the moment, but then didn’t return to the game.

The Bruins didn’t actually get on the scoreboard until the third period, when they scored three times to force overtime and eventually won in the shootout. But their play was visibly elevated after the fights.

“That was a big effect. After that we changed entirely,” said Pavel Zacha , who had two of the three Boston goals. “Fight for each other and get the team going. It was great.”

Jeremy Swayman downplayed his 35 saves compared to the contributions of his pugilistic teammates.

“Those two are the true heroes tonight,” he said. “Understanding the situation we’re in and stepping up and taking on two pretty big opponents, I respect the hell out of those guys.I’m really happy to get the win, especially for those two.”

Charlie McAvoy respected that they took on a huge guy in Gudbranson and one of the league’s toughest players in Olivier.

“We have so much respect for those guys to do that. Those are two pretty big bodies on the other side, tough opponents to drop the gloves with,” McAvoy said. “Two big emotional fights for us. Kind of wakes everybody up. It was the spark of life we needed.”

Bruins coach Marco Sturm gave special mention to Jeannot. He was in a noncontact injury in practice one day last week, battling through an undisclosed injury but fought anyway.

“Kasty and Jeannot took the lead. Those two guys and Sway turned things around,” Sturm said. “A guy like Jeannot has been through a lot. To have a fight like that is huge. Kasty too. The other guy never came back. That’s what good teams do. I’m very proud of them.”

More Bruins content