BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 13: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins celebrates a goal against the Calgary Flames at the TD Garden on February 13, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Boston Bruins dismantled the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets this evening, with a 6-2 victory.

Coming into tonight’s game, the Blue Jackets were on a 5-game winning streak. With this victory, the stage has now been officially set for the first round match up pitching the Boston Bruins against long-time rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With the Leafs’ loss 4-1 to Carolina, the Boston Bruins will be hosting Game One. Boston not only picked themselves back up after a two-game skid, but came to play, bringing the playoff intensity that had been missing in the last two outings. Securing home ice in the first round of the playoffs, as any hockey fan knows, is crucial. Hook that series to my veins!

The Boston Bruins came out flying in the 80th game of the season and made it 1-0 just 1:58 into the first period on a lucky fluke bounce. More often than not before tonight’s game, that fluky bounce would have always gone the other way.

Jake Debrusk got credit for the goal, his 26th goal of the season.15 minutes later, Marcus Johansson scored his first as a Bruin and the B’s carried a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. This contest felt like a playoff match-up from puck drop with several big hits thrown, and a very questionable one delivered by Jackets defenseman David Savard on Noel Acciari which surprisingly went uncalled. It was a text book hit from behind. You could really start to feel the temperature rise as the minutes went on in the first period.

The second period was just as dominant the B’s as they continued their assault on the Jackets D, adding another two goals.

Brad Marchand scored his 36th of the season and Jake Debrusk added his second of the game, and 27th goal of the campaign. That spelled the end of Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky‘s night.

Bobrovsky was on an absolute tear coming into tonight’s game, winning his last 5 starts, while posting a .971 save percentage and three shutouts. The pedal to the metal, full fore-check style, had the Jackets D off-kilter and the Boston Bruins really utilized their stretch pass ability.

In the third period, the good times kept on rolling for the Bruins. 34 seconds in, David Pastrnak scored his 37th of the year, and saw Brad Marchand register his 100th point of the season, becoming the first Bruins to reach the century mark since Joe Thornton did so in the 2002-2003 season. The absolute joy this brings me is probably borderline unhealthy, as I enjoy the taste of haters tears!

2019 has been an incredible season for Brad Marchand. Aside from his first ever 100-point season, he also became the Bruins all-time leader in shorthanded goals, and has undoubtedly had his best season in the black and gold.

Oliver Bjorkstrand got the Jackets on the board during a powerplay to make it 5-1, and just 3:25 later, their powerplay struck again with Matt Duchene netting his 31st making it 5-2. Not bothered by the pressure, just 1:14 later, the Bruins extended their lead to 6-2 on Karson Kuhlman‘s third of the year.

Tuukka Rask was steady as a rock in goal this evening, and made a few big saves. He made sure the Bruins were not involved in a high scoring affair. Tonight’s effort will no doubt make the Boston Bruins faithful feel much better going into the playoffs.

This team is very hard to play against when everyone is healthy and rolling. Bring on the Maple Leafs!