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Round 2 Game 5 Recap: Blue Jackets’ rally falls short, faces elimination

Posted on by William Chase

A chance to take a 3-2 series lead, Game 5 between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins from TD Garden in Boston started off with a fast pace.

As had been the identity of the series for both squads, Sergei Bobrovsky and Tuukka Rask were living up to the billing again, playing outstanding goal, and making each goal that actually got by either net minder that much bigger. Though Bobrovsky did his part once again, it was the Bruins that skated away with the 4-3 win, and 3-2 series lead. Rask made 29 saves and Boston fought off a furious third-period rally by Columbus that saw a combined six goals.

Here’s how we got there.

There was no scoring in the first period but Boston had two chances on the power play, which they failed to convert. These were the only penalties that Columbus would take for the rest of the game as they looked to get back to a more disciplined approach.

The Jackets also missed on their first period power play, and the two teams were 0-for-2 on the night with the man-advantage.

Just 1:39 into the second period David Krejci trickled one past Bobrovsky giving the Bruins the lead 1-0.

Bobrovsky did his part to keep this a 1-0 game with sterling saves in the second period. Rask was not seemingly challenged much, beyond all 23 shots he saved, as Columbus was not able to sustain much zone time or a consistent forecheck. They showed some life at times, but they would need the third period to dent the scoreboard.

Alison sums that period up.

The Bruins pushed the puck inside their zone in the opening minutes of the third period, pressing on and keeping Bobrovsky on his toes. Seth Jones and Zach Werenski had a 2:06 shift before finally getting a breather.

Bobrovsky, making fine save after save, would naturally get burned on yet another good goaltending exhibition, when he made an initial glove save on Brad Marchand, before losing out to Marchand on the second chance rebound, a play Bobrovsky had no chance on.

With the way this one was going, and the Blue Jackets offense struggling to find its way, a two goal lead felt monumental. But not long after, Seth Jones got the Blue Jackets on the board. After an initial no goal call on the ice, video review reversed the ruling. However, Boston responded on a 2-on-1 soon after, resulting in the Bruins regaining the two-goal lead.

David Pastrnak’s tally was the first of his two-goal night, and he has six in the playoffs, three in the series.

But it was not over yet. Ryan Dzingel scored his first point of the playoffs, bringing the Jackets to within one, again, and continuing a string of three goals in 1:34.

Another first came when Dean Kukan’s blast to tie the score at three with 6:01 left was his first career NHL goal. And what a time to get it. Columbus scored all three of their goals in 3:25 of the third period.

But Pastrnak’s second goal, the game-winner with 1:28 left, would be the difference as Boston held on for a wild 4-3 win. The series heads back to Nationwide Arena on Monday, with the Bruins leading the series 3-2, and leaving the Blue Jackets on the brink of elimination.

Some final notes from this one include Vladislav Gavorkiv making his NHL debut for the Blue Jackets, skating 14:17, getting one shot on goal, making a block, and dishing out a hit. Alexandre Texier was a healthy scratch. Coming into the night, the Blue Jackets had just 12 goals while five-on-five, but add three more to that total. If you want to know where John Tortorella’s thoughts are:

Talking Points