Bruins pad Atlantic edge, defeat Blue Jackets in overtime

BOSTON-- Brad Marchand scored with 1:30 left in overtime, and the Boston Bruins ended a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at TD Garden on Saturday.

Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves for Boston (43-20-9), which has won 11 straight home games and leads the Toronto Maple Leafs by four points for second place in the Atlantic Division. Toronto lost 6-2 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
The Bruins tightened things defensively after they allowed 15 goals during the losing streak.
WATCH: [All Blue Jackets vs. Bruins highlights]
"I think that's the difference tonight," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We addressed that going into Winnipeg. Score didn't show it in Winnipeg, four goals against (a 4-3 loss on Thursday). I thought our team D-zone coverage was much better, rush coverage was a problem. So we talked about that a little more.
"I think our guys knew that's the easiest way to get back on track, is keep the puck out of your net. We were able to do that."

Matt Duchene scored, and Joonas Korpisalo made 31 saves for Columbus (40-28-4), which won its previous two games. The Blue Jackets trail the Carolina Hurricanes by one point for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Carolina defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 on Saturday.
"I think we played better connected tonight. I thought we were around the puck with numbers of people," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "We weren't so spread out as we were [Friday] night (a 3-0 win against the Hurricanes). I like the way we played.
"That's five out of six points, twice against Boston, getting three out of four from them. [Korpisalo] played well, but I just thought everybody contributed tonight."
Patrice Bergeron scored a power-play goal at 5:51 of the first period to give Boston a 1-0 lead. After David Krejci won a board battle, he passed to Marchand, who found Bergeron in the slot for a backhand shot.

Duchene tied it 1-1 at 16:52; it was his 30th goal of the season playing for Columbus and the Ottawa Senators.
Marchand scored on a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle after a backhand pass from the high slot by Bergeron. It was his 15th overtime goal of his NHL career, his 11th since the League went to 3-on-3 overtime.
"We know where each other is going to be on the ice mostly at all times," Bergeron said. "I knew he was going to try and open up on that one and I tried to find him. You could tell that I think they were a little bit tired, and that's what happens in overtime. It's not easy when your shift gets extended and it's only 3-on-3, so things are opened up and we found a way and we got the bounce. We'll take it."

They said it

"He's as good a backup goalie as you're ever going to see. You take 'backup goalie' with a grain of salt when it's him. He's outstanding." -- Blue Jackets center Matt Duchene on Joonas Korpisalo
"Yeah, he did a nice job for us. He came into the room before. He's fired up, that guy. He's still fired up. I'm glad he won, he would've come in and probably his way with us. Nah, he had a nice few words for the guys before the game. A little different. We're not used to that." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy on pregame pep talk from former UFC champion Conor McGregor

Need to know

Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 46 saves Friday, was given the night off as a healthy scratch. Keith Kinkaid backed up Korpisalo. … Columbus captain Nick Foligno missed the game because of a personal matter. … Boston trails the Tampa Bay Lightning by 19 points for first place in the Atlantic. The win prevented the Lightning from clinching the division. … Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk returned after being out five games with a lower-body injury. … Bergeron's goal was the 800th point of his NHL career. … Marchand has 87 points, an NHL career high. … The Bruins' home winning streak is their longest since they won 14 in a row from Oct. 25, 2008-Jan. 1, 2009.

What's next

Blue Jackets: At the Calgary Flames on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; ESPN+, TVAS, SNW, FS-O, NHL.TV)
Bruins: At the New York Islanders on Tuesday (Nassau Coliseum; 7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, MSG+, NESN, NHL.TV)