For the second time in 24 hours, the Bruins take the ice, jockeying for playoff position.
Following an important 6-3 victory over the Wild, the Bruins regroup with a matchup in Columbus, who occupy the second wild card position.
Columbus recently had a 12-game point streak, but have lost three of their last four since then. The Blue Jackets (38-24-11) are two points shy from being tied for second place in the Metropolitan division.
The Bruins (41-24-8) will have their pedestrian 14-14-7 mark on the road tested. Columbus has posted a 20-9-7 mark at home this season.
Winners of four of their last five, the Bruins maintain a three point advantage on Columbus for the first wild card spot. Boston trails the Canadiens by two points for the third seed in the Atlantic, yet Montreal has a game in hand.
There are nine teams within 10 points of each other jockeying for playoff position in the crowded Eastern Conference picture.
The puck will drop at 5 p.m. at Nationwide Arena. Here’s the preview:
When: Sunday, 5 p.m.
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV, radio: NESN, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Columbus -150. O/U: 6.0.
BRUINS
Season record: 41-24-8. vs. spread: 47-26. Over/under: 40-32, 1 push
Last 10 games: 6-2-2. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 5-5
BLUE JACKETS
Season record: 38-24-11. vs. spread: 39-34. Over/under: 33-36, 4 pushes
Last 10 games: 6-3-1. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 3-7
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Boston 243, Columbus 228
Goals allowed: Boston 224, Columbus 221
Power play: Boston 23.3%, Columbus 19.9%
Penalty minutes: Boston 920, Columbus 589
Penalty kill: Boston 76.6%, Columbus 77.9%
Faceoffs won: Boston 52.5%, Columbus 50.5%
Stat of the day: David Pastrnak owns a 12 game point streak.
Notes: David Pastrnak has 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in his last five games. Pavel Zacha, his countrymate, has recorded four goals and three assists in that same span ... Columbus defensemen Brendan Smith (knee) and Damon Severson (upper-body) are both listed as out, while Dmitri Voronkov is day-to-day with an upper-body injury ... The Bruins have no listings on the injury report ... Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli has three goals and seven assists in his last 10 games.
Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.