Bruins pull even with Game 4 win in Columbus

Artemi Panarin scored for Columbus on a controversial play, and Sergei Bobrovsky, who has been spectacular in the post-season so far, made 41 saves but was beaten on long shots by Pastrnak and Bergeron in the first period.

Brad Marchand picked up an assist on Bergeron’s goal but also three penalties — one leading to an unsuccessful Blue Jackets penalty shot in the first period. Marchand and Bergeron had been kept off the scoresheet in the first three games.

Early in the first, Pastrnak was flattened by a huge hit from Columbus defenceman Adam Clendening. Around 25 seconds later, Pastrnak rifled a shot past Bobrovsky from the left circle to get the Bruins on the board. Boston made it 2-0 on Bergeron’s snap shot from the slot at 7:18 of the first.

Columbus then benefited from a blown call. After the puck appeared to go into the netting and back onto the ice behind Boston’s goal, Panarin ended up with it and poked it in from close range. The Bruins protested, but the play was not subject to review because the scorer, Panarin, wasn’t the first to possess the puck off the net.

After a scoreless second, Kuraly put back a rebound off the end boards 8:40 into the final period. Bergeron picked up his second goal off a rebound with 21/2 minutes left in the game.

Boston forward David Backes was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch since Game 5 of the first round against Toronto. Karson Kuhlman went to the bench.