Patrice Bergeron, Bruins Capture Game 4 Win over Blue Jackets to Even Series

Patrice Bergeron scored two goals and Sean Kuraly and David Pastrnak added one apiece as the Boston Bruins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 in Game 4 of their NHL Eastern Conference second-round playoff series at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Tuukka Rask made 39 saves for the Bruins, who tied the Blue Jackets 2-2 in the best-of-seven matchup.

Artemi Panarin scored the lone Columbus goal, and Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 42 shots.

The Bruins and Blue Jackets played an action-packed game that featured 86 shots on goal, a controversial score, a penalty shot and numerous short-handed chances.

Pastrnak opened the scoring with a one-timer at 3:33 of the first period:

Paul Campbell of InGoal Magazine gave credit to the screen pass that set up the opening score:

The Blue Jackets were undeterred, however, and earned a penalty shot after Brad Marchand took down Boone Jenner on a short-handed breakaway.

However, Rask came through with a clutch save to keep Boston in the lead:

Twenty-six seconds later, Bergeron scored the first of his two goals off a beautiful top-shelf wrist shot to extend the Boston edge to 2-0:

The B's didn't enjoy the two-goal lead for long, as Panarin corralled a loose puck and scored at 8:46 of the first period:

That score didn't come without controversy, though, as the puck clearly hit the mesh netting above the glass before falling back into play. The officials should have blown the play dead but action kept going.

The logical question is why the referees didn't go to video review, and NHL Public Relations explained why:

Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports Boston said it was "astounding" that referees can't review such plays:

Retired NHL referee Kerry Fraser also supported review for similar calls, noting how difficult it is for officials to catch such instances:

Regardless, Columbus had cut the lead to one.

Nine seconds later, Boston went back on the power play. Jenner earned one of his four short-handed chances during the Columbus penalty kill but could not convert.

Overall, the first period featured 25 shots on goal, five penalties, a goal that should have never happened, three short-handed shots from one player and three scores within 5:13.

Aaron Portzline of The Athletic used a perfect word to describe the period:

The second frame featured no scoring, but the Bruins started pulling away in the third.

Kuraly netted the Bruins' third goal thanks to being in the right place at the right time at 8:40.

And Bergeron sent everyone home with a power-play goal to finish the scoring:

Boston will host Columbus for Game 5 on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET. NBC will televise the contest.