Saturday night at the TD Garden in Boston saw the Boston Bruins play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets for game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round, with the best of seven series tied at 2-2.
The first period saw a trio of penalties, served one after the other – first, the Blue Jackets lost Cam Atkinson for his slash on Marcus Johansson, seconds after Atkinson returned to the game, the Bruins went without Charlie McAvoy for his slash against Boone Jenner. Having too many men on the ice saw Ryan Dzingel head to the Columbus penalty box. Despite the penalties, the scoreboard remained 0-0 at the end of the first period.
Early in the second, a turnover in the Bruins zone saw David Backes streak down the wing, passing to Jake DeBrusk as the two players headed in to the Blue Jackets zone, and as DeBrusk headed towards goal, David Krejci came in and picked up a quick pass, putting it through Sergei Bobrovsky’s five hole.
Tory Krug’s penalty for holding Nick Foligno was the only penalty of the second period, but once more Boston’s penalty kill was up to the challenge.
The second period ended 1-0, Tuukka Rask keeping a clean sheet so far through the game.
Period three saw no penalties at all, but an explosion of goals made for an exciting climax to the game.
Brad Marchand at 4:51 made the game 2-0 to the home team with assists from Connor Clifton and Patrice Bergeron.
Atkinson and Zach Werenski were given assists after Seth Jones’ shot deflected off Matt Grzelcyk’s stick and around Rask’s leg at 10:33. The goal was originally waved off, but the call on the ice was overturned upon video review. “Just trying to throw it in the paint, to be honest,” Jones said. “I saw some bodies and sticks. Just try to throw it in there, try to create something.”
Marchand then helped David Pastrnak push the Bruins lead once more, but Ryan Dzingel responded within a minute and just over a minute later Dean Kukan had tied the game up, 3-3. All three goals coming 3 minutes 25 seconds after Jones’ goal to start the scoring for the Blue Jackets.
With six minutes left in the game, and the Bruins having gone from a 2-0 lead to being level at 3-3, both teams had it all to play for.
As the game entered the final 90 seconds of regulation time, Brandon Carlo sent the puck from the Bruins blue line to Marchand at the Columbus blue line. As he headed towards goal, the Blue Jackets defence headed to Marchand to close out any opportunities, but Pastrnak slipped in behind them and a quick pass meant he had plenty of space where Bobrovsky had been focused on Marchand. The look of delight on Pastrnak’s face after the puck went in showed the pressure the Boston team had been working under with the game tied, and the relief this late goal gave.
It was too close to the end for the Blue Jackets to rally again, and the game ended 4-3 to Boston.
“Things happen for a reason,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. “And I truly believe that. We’ll be back here for Game 7.”
Both netminders faced 36 shots each during the game, Rask stopping 33 and Bobrovsky only keeping hold of 32.
“It’s huge,” said Tuukka Rask. “It’s a best-out-of-3 there, so you want to take care of business at home like we did today. But a great game. They’re a great team too. They don’t quit. You give them a little life, they’re going to take it.”
Game 6 of Eastern Conference Second Round at Nationwide Arena on Monday.
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