Swayman’s 18 saves, dominance across the board, and more: 3 reasons why Boston Bruins shut out Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0

The Boston Bruins cruised past the Columbus Blue Jackets, shutting them out 4-0 on Saturday night at the TD Garden. With the win, the Bruins improved to 20-14-4, keeping pace with the Tampa Bay Lightning for third place in the Atlantic Division, and snapping a two-game skid.

Justin Brazeau, Morgan Geekie, David Pastrnak and Cole Koepke got the goals for the Bruins. The Blue Jackets managed 18 shots on goal but had no luck getting on the scoreboard.

So, here’s a look at the three main reasons why the Boston Bruins shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets:

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Three reasons why the Boston Bruins shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets

#3 Strong penalty kill

The Boston Bruins took three penalties on the night, promptly killing off all three. Overall, the Columbus Blue Jackets' power play looked listless, facilitating the kill for Boston.

It’s worth pointing out the Bruins had an aggressive penalty kill, keeping the Blue Jackets from moving the puck around. As such, the Bruins controlled the play, limiting the danger from potential Columbus scoring chances.

#2 Dominant performance

The Boston Bruins dominated the game from start to finish. The Bruins outshot the Blue Jackets 28-18, while getting the edge in the faceoff circle, winning 51% of the draws.

Moreover, the B’s played a much more physical game, getting a 30-22 advantage in hits. The Bruins blocked 16 shots to the Jackets’ four while minimizing their giveaways to 15.

Overall, the Bruins controlled the pace of the game the entire night. The Jackets’ 18 shots lacked any sort of danger, giving Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman a relatively easy night in the crease.

#1 Jeremy Swayman shut the door

Jeremy Swayman continued his string of strong starts, notching up his second shutout of the season. He looked sharp, considering he wasn’t forced to make huge saves in the game. The Bruins defense deserves credit for minimizing the Jackets’ scoring chances.

Swayman’s strong effort earned him the game’s first star. Morgan Geekie got the second, while David Pastrnak earned the third star.

For Swayman, the shutout win marked his fourth win in his last five starts. His only loss was a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 19. Swayman made 23 saves in the overtime defeat.

His recent performances are a highly encouraging sign as the Bruins look to continue climbing the Atlantic Division and secure a playoff spot. The Bruins will get a chance to reload for a couple of days before taking on Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.