For all their weaknesses, the Bruins remain squarely in the middle of the NHL table, having secured exactly half of the possible points from their first 19 games via an 8-8-3 start.

When you look deeper, it’s a bit of a surprise. Only four teams score fewer goals per match, and only seven teams allow more goals. Boston’s power play is by far the worst in the league. And yet, despite everything, the Bruins remain in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Compare that to Monday’s visitors to TD Garden, Columbus. The Blue Jackets rank mostly in the middle of most major teams’ stats, aside from allowing even more goals than the Bruins: 3.59 per game, fourth-worst in the NHL.

Yet they come into Boston in November just 1-6-1 and second-to-last in the Eastern Conference after losing 5-1 in Montreal on Saturday night, the only team behind them in the standings. It was the seventh straight loss for the Jackets (0-5-2).

After snapping a six-game skid Friday night against Pittsburgh by scoring three times in the third period, Columbus flipped the script at the Bell Center. Trailing 2-1 going into the final ten minutes of the third, the Jackets allowed three goals in a flurry of five minutes – the first two lost goals in their defensive end.

“When our team plays well and moves pucks, we get pucks in and behind the defense and we get going,” said former BU Terrier Dante Fabbro, who claimed waivers from Columbus of Nashville last week. “That is our identity. If you stray from that, it is difficult to win games.”

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jeremy Swayman will start in goal for Boston. Here’s a taste.

When: Monday, 7 p.m

Where: TD Garden, Boston

television, radio: NESN, WBZ-FM 98.5

Line: Boston-235. O/U: 6.0.

BLUE JACKETS

Season record: 6-9-2. vs. spreading: 9-8. Top/bottom: 11-6

Last 10 matches: 3-6-1. vs. spreading: 3-7. Top/bottom: 6-4

BROWN

Season record: 8-8-3. vs. spreading: 5-14. Top/bottom: 9-10

Last 10 matches: 4-4-2. vs. spreading: 2-8. Top/bottom: 3-7

TEAM STATISTICS

Goals scored: Columbus 53, Boston 47

Goals allowed: Columbus 61, Boston 64

Power game: Columbus 17.0%, Boston 11.3%

Penalty minutes: Columbus 122, Boston 222

Criminal murder: Columbus 80.4%, Boston 75.0%

Faceoffs won: Columbus 50.4%, Boston 51.6%

Statistic of the day: The Blue Jackets have lost eight of the past nine meetings overall against Boston and four in a row at TD Garden.

Notes: Fabbro scored Columbus’ only goal on Saturday in Montreal, his first with the Blue Jackets. . . Former Bruin James van Riemsdyk signed a free-agent deal with the Jackets in September, but was a healthy scratch on Saturday and was replaced at forward by Zach Aston-Reese. . . Trent Frederic recorded his first multi-goal game of the season on Saturday, accounting for all of Boston’s scores and five of the team’s 17 shots. . . Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke (upper body) and forward Tyler Johnson (personal) both returned to practice Sunday, while Mark Kastelic (lower body) remains day-to-day. . . The Blue Jackets scored just 13 goals in their previous seven games before beating Pittsburgh 6-2 on Friday. . . The Beanpot banners in the rafters will be no stranger to much of the Columbus roster. Haverhill’s Jordan Harris scored the double overtime winner for Northeastern in 2020, while fellow Husky Aston-Reese and Fabbro were also veterans of the tournament.