Sean Monahan, Dmitri Voronkov each score twice to lead the Blue Jackets past the Bruins 6-2

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Sean Monahan scored twice in his 800th NHL game, helping Columbus beat the Boston Bruins 6-2 Friday night and extending the Blue Jackets’ home win streak to three games.

Dmitri Voronkov added two goals and an assist, extending his point streak to six games. Kirill Marchenko’s goal and two assists gave him points in a career-high seven straight. Adam Fantilli also scored, and Elvis Merzlikins made 23 saves for Columbus.

Zach Werenski had four assists for the second time in his career, setting a franchise record with points in 12 straight home games.

Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle scored, and Joonas Korpisalo stopped 27 shots for Boston, which lost its second straight on the road. Brad Marchand’s assist on Coyle's goal extended his point streak to 11 games.

Boston: The Bruins looked competitive when they tied the score with a goal late in the first, but were stagnant in the second, going nearly 10 minutes without a shot on goal and then allowing five unanswered goals in a lackluster performance.

Columbus: The Blue Jackets came out with jump and spent much of the first period in Boston’s end before dominating the second and trading goals in the third for its most complete game of the season.

The Blue Jackets scored three goals in a span of 2:47 in the second and added another with 46 seconds left in the period, breaking the game open and improving to 10-0-3 when leading after two periods.

The Blue Jackets scored three power-play goals for the first time since Feb. 23, 2021, in a home loss to Chicago. They have recorded power-play goals in eight of their last 10 games. The Bruins have given up three power-play goals in a game six times this season.

The teams complete a back-to-back home-and-home, with Boston hosting Columbus on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Boston Bruins' Elias Lindholm, left, looks for an open pass as Columbus Blue Jackets' Sean Monahan (23) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Boston Bruins' Joonas Korpisalo makes a save against the Columbus Blue Jackets' during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Dante Fabbro, right, clears the puck away from Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand, front left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Boston Bruins' Morgan Geekie, right, carries the puck across the blue line as Columbus Blue Jackets' Ivan Provorov, front left, defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Dmitri Voronkov, center, scores against Boston Bruins' Joonas Korpisalo, left, as Brandon Carlo defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Dmitri Voronkov, right, scores against Boston Bruins' Joonas Korpisalo during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night, according to the Mega Millions website.

The California Lottery said the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Road in Cottonwood. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known.

The total amount of the Mega Millions jackpot would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Friday night’s drawing is an estimated $549.7 million.

Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continued to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grew. Until Friday, the last time a Mega Millions player hit the top prize was Sept. 10.

The largest-ever Mega Millions jackpot ticket worth $1.6 billion was sold in Florida in August 2023. Two prizes for its compatriot Powerball lottery have been larger.

Mega Millions and Powerball are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is sold in Puerto Rico.

Mega Millions ticket prices are set to rise from $2 to $5 in April. The increase will be one of many changes that officials say will result in improved jackpot odds, more frequent giant prizes and even larger payouts.

Rob, right, buys a Mega Millions ticket at Rossi's Deli in San Francisco, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

A Mega Millions lottery ticket is displayed at a store on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Tigard, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Dennis Murphy shows off his lottery tickets he just bought at Joe's Service Center on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in Altadena, Calif. In 2022, the location had sold a $2.04 billion Powerball ticket. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)