The Boston Bruins are facing some injury issues as forward Mark Kastelic is skating, but not yet ready for game action. Defenseman Hampus Lindholm is also practicing alone, with no set timetable for his return, as confirmed by Coach Joe Sacco.

Defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been placed on IR due to a lingering injury, retroactive to January 11th, while Lindholm was placed on LTIR earlier. Cole Koepke had to leave a game due to a hit, creating further uncertainty for the Bruins.

In other league news, Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes has been placed on IR but is expected to return soon. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Aston-Reese is back on the ice following an upper-body injury, and Detroit's Tyler Motte left a game with an injury without an update on his status.

As of January 1, 2025, three players from the Columbus Blue Jackets are eligible to sign contract extensions after the signing of Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year deal. The remaining candidates are James van Riemsdyk, Kevin Labanc, and Jack Johnson, each presenting unique possibilities for the franchise.

At 35, van Riemsdyk may become a trade target if the Blue Jackets' hopes for a Wild Card spot dim, attracting interest from multiple playoff contenders. Conversely, should the team stay competitive, he might delay extension talks until the offseason.

Labanc, who joined the Jackets after a professional tryout with the New Jersey Devils, has integrated well as a bottom-six forward and may be poised for an extension soon.

On the other hand, 38-year-old Jack Johnson is at the tail end of his career and could be traded regardless of the Blue Jackets' playoff status, potentially to a contending team like the Colorado Avalanche, to enhance his chances of winning the Stanley Cup.

The Columbus Blue Jackets faced a disappointing defeat against the Boston Bruins, losing 4-0 on Saturday night. Goaltender Daniil Tarasov managed to stop 24 of the 28 shots fired at him, but the Jackets struggled offensively, failing to score throughout the game. The only notable aggression from Columbus came from Mathieu Olivier, who participated in two fights, one against Mark Kastelic in the first period and another against Nikita Zadorov in the third. This performance was described as a 'burn the tape' game, with little positive to take away except for the fact that Jeremy Swayman secured a shutout for Boston.

Currently, the Blue Jackets hold a record of 15-16-6, placing them sixth in the Metropolitan Division with 36 points. They are only two points away from the second wildcard spot, despite their poor performance in this game. On the road, Columbus has struggled significantly, with a record of 4-12-3 this season. Defenseman Dante Fabbro reflected on the game, stating that while there were moments of good play, the team ultimately hindered their own progress.

In terms of individual performances, Zach Werenski led the team with four shots on goal and logged over 24 minutes of ice time. Kirill Marchenko also contributed four shots, while Zach Aston-Reese recorded five hits. The Jackets' power play was ineffective, failing to score on three opportunities, although they successfully killed off two Boston power plays. At the faceoff circle, the Jackets won 48.9% of the draws. Looking ahead, Columbus will return home to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.