FINAL: Bruins 3, Blue Jackets 1 - Marchand's natural hat trick carries B's to win

The Bruins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Sunday night at TD Garden. Brad Marchand's natural hat trick led the B's to victory. It was his sixth career hat trick. 

The Bruins had two power plays in the first period but struggled to control the puck.They went into the locker room scoreless at the first intermission. 

The second period saw the B's have some chances at the net, but had no luck. Columbus scored at the 19:25 mark thanks to a goal from Boone Jenner to make it 1-0. 

The third period was dominated by Brad Marchand. Marchand scored at the 1:56 mark which tied it up 1-1.

 Marchand scored again at the 5:37 mark which gave Boston a 2-1 lead. 

Marchand wasn't done yet as he scored at the 7:46 mark to make it 3-1 B's, and record a natural hat trick. Marchand scored all three goals in under six minutes and has now scored the last four goals for Boston. 

Jeremy Swayman finished with 25 saves on the night in net. 

The Bruins will be back in action on Thursday night at TD Garden when they take on the Buffalo Sabres with puck drop set for 7p.m.

BIG TAKEAWAYS:

• Brad Marchand finished with a natural hat trick. 
• Marchand has scored the last four goals for the B's. 
• Marchand scored all three goals in under six minutes tonight. 
• Boston did a good job of continuing to attack the net despite Spencer Martin making saves. 

____________________________

WHO: Blue Jackets (8-13-4) at Bruins (16-4-3)    
WHEN: 7p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston. 
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub
LIVE BOX SCORE
ROSTERS

BOSTON
DeBrusk-Zacha-Pastrnak
Marchand-Coyle-Heinen
Van Riemsdyk-Poitras-Frederic
Lauko-Beecher-Geekie

Grzelcyk-McAvoy
Lindholm-Carlo
Forbort-Shattenkirk

Swayman
Ullmark

BLUE JACKETS

 Gaudreau –  Jenner –  Johnson
 Laine –  Fantilli –  Danforth
 Chinakhov –  Voronkov –  Marchenko
 Texier –  Kuraly –  Olivier

 Werenski –  BoqvistIvan 
Provorov –  Jiricek
 Bean –  Gudbranson

 Martin
Merzlikins

PREGAME NOTES

The Bruins host the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at 7p.m. at TD Garden. Boston is playing on a back-to-back as they  won 4-3 in overtime at Toronto on Saturday night. 

The B's just recently played Columbus on November 27th at Nationwide Arena where the Blue Jackets won 5-2. Boston enters tonight on a two-game winning streak. Charlie McAvoy will be appearing is his 400th career game tonight for the B's. Jim Montgomery told reporters that Johnny Beecher will return to the lineup tonight replacing Oskar Steen. 

Boston faces a Columbus team that is coming off a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Friday night. The Blue Jackets are 4-2-0 in their last six games and close out a stretch of four-straight games against Atlantic Division opponents tonight. Columbus allowed a power play goal for the first time on Friday in six games. The Blue Jackets have now allowed a power play goal in just three of the past 18 games. Boone Jenner leads the club in goals (12) and is second in points (17),  Zach Werenski leads Columbus in points (18).  Johnny Gaudreau has recorded two goals and five assists in his last eight games.