After a sleepy first two periods that featured just one goal, the Bruins and Blue Jackets combined for an epic third period that saw the teams combine for six goals, including five in the last 10 minutes. Fortunately for the Bruins, who saw a two-goal lead evaporate in a span less than two minutes, they scored the final tally — David Pastrnak's second of the game — with 1:28 remaining to win pivotal Game 5 and take a 3-2 series lead.
Tuukka Rask and the Bruins had to withstand a Columbus final flurry — including a dinged post and two point-blank chances with 14.6 seconds remaining — to take the series lead heading into Game 6 in Columbus. Rask stopped 29 of 32 shots.
David Krejci and Brad Marchand also lit the lamp for the Bruins. Patrice Bergeron and Pastrnak each led the Bruins with a plus-3 rating.
Sergei Bobrovsky had another strong game in net for Columbus, despite allowing four goals on 33 shots.
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5v5 play that period was .... something. pic.twitter.com/hlpyzQGwrx
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) May 5, 2019
- The Bruins’ power play managed to land some shots in against Sergei Bobrovsky in Game 4, cashing in on two of its six chances on the man advantage. Still, Boston surrendered far too many shorthanded opportunities, with Columbus generating five shots on goal and five scoring chances against Tuukka Rask. Whether it be swapping David Pastrnak for David Krejci on the top power-play unit or adding two defensemen into the mix, changes are going to be on the table for the Bruins when it comes to the man advantage, especially if that top unit stalls out early on.
- Will be interesting to see if the Jackets’ change up anything on their power play, as the B’s posted a perfect 4-for-4 showing on the PK Thursday night. Entering Game 4 with an imposing 38.1 percent success rate on the power play, Columbus’ man advantage still managed to pepper Tuukka Rask with nine shots on goal during 5v4 play. Once again, Game 5 figures to be a special-teams battle.
- The lone lineup change on the table for the Bruins is on the fourth line, as Noel Acciari did not practice Saturday morning and is officially listed as a game-time decision. If Acciari can’t go, Chris Wagner will slot into the lineup. After dealing with a lower-body injury over the final days of the regular season, Wagner hasn’t settled into a groove during postseason play — as he’s yet to tally a point over seven playoff matchups.
- The Jackets could be without Riley Nash for another night, as the versatile fourth liner did not practice on Saturday after standing as a late scratch on Thursday. Markus Nutivaara is still not expected back, as the defenseman hasn’t played since getting hit by Nikita Kucherov back on April 12.