This was an important one for the Boston Bruins. They have never won a playoff series when trailing 3-1. Heading to Game 4 on the road trailing 2-1 in the series, the danger was there. But the Bruins handled it nicely.
Once again, the Bruins came out to play a great first period. For the third time in the series, the Bruins opened the scoring. Then the Bruins capitalized on their first power play of the night to make it 2-0. It was Patrice Bergeron with his first non-empty net goal since Game 2 against Toronto.
That was a comfortable start, but the rest wasn’t quite easy.
The Blue Jackets brought the game within one goal thanks to Artemi Panarin‘s third of the series. The replay showed the puck went up to the netting and out of play. No problem, good goal for Columbus. Right after that, two power plays for Boston, without the success.
That goal was kind of illegal. Why kind of, though? Remember that game back here at Nationwide Arena when the Blue Jackets scored a similar goal? Jack Edwards went mad about that and it repeated in the very same building a few years afterward in a playoff game. In Columbus, the netting is probably counted as a part of the play.
Swallowing that moment and not converting on two power plays, it was tough for the Bruins. Later on, the Blue Jackets got their two power-play chances, but the Bruins killed it. Then Boston countered with a couple of chances to get a two-goal lead they already should have had. No luck. In the final two minutes of the second period, Columbus had a power play. If they scored here, that would kill the Bruins headed to the third frame.
Nevertheless, the Bruins were reluctant and finished the night with the “shutout.” What a display of resiliency and perseverance that was. After such a nonsense goal against and so many missed opportunities, the Bruins stayed with it.
Many times it’s not about what you deserve but what you earn. The Bruins clearly deserved to win Game 4 and they earned the series tied at two going back to Boston for Game 5.
