Hey - wait! A number in the win column!

For the first time in this preseason, the Boston Bruins had the edge in power play opportunities - and squandered it. Even that shortcoming, however, did not prevent them from celebrating their first victory of the year, by a 4-2 margin over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The two sides took an equal number of shots on goal, but the Bruins made more of the opportunities work for them.

Things looked grim from the start - just thirty-one seconds in, Pavel Rosa beat Antero Niitymaki for a 1-0 lead. Angered at being beaten, Andrej Meszaros went on the offensive and scored his second goal in as many nights to tie the game back up at one. Martin Havat and Saku Koivu assisted on the goal.

The Bruins were given a power play chance when Deron Quint laid out his man with a cross-check, but were unable to make anything of it, in part due to the continued absence of Tim Connolly, the power play's point man. Three and a half minutes after the opportunity was wasted, Radek Martinek and Jochen Hecht perfectly fed Bill Guerin the puck on the right side, getting him his first of the year and giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead.

The Bruins stayed on the attack, looking to expand the lead. Thankfully, with Killer Keith tKachuk on the ice, at 11:20, they made it 3-1. Unfortunately, when an Andy Hilbert pass to Lee Goren was skuffled away at center ice by Josh Hennessy, the insurance goal was given back.

The second period was a quiet one, with only two Columbus penalties whistled - neither of which resulted in power play success for the Bruins, and they outshot the Jackets only seven to four. A paltry offensive effort, without a doubt.

In the third period, Andy McDonald tacked one more goal to the scoreboard. Though outshot by a three to two margin, the Bruins took the two goal lead at 04:40 off McDonald's Martinek-fed goal.

Antero Niitymaki, on the strength of his twenty-five saves, claimed the top game star. Bill Guerin and Jochen Hecht joined him in the honor as the Bruins moved to 1-3-0 on the preseason.

The Bruins visit Montreal in a battle of Original Six teams as Boston look to build a winning streak.