Blue Jackets eke past Bruins for 2-1 series edge

[May 01, 2019]  Matt Duchene and Boone Jenner scored, Sergei Bobrovsky made 36 saves, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the visiting Boston Bruins 2-1 on Tuesday night to take a two-games-to-one lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The upstart Blue Jackets improved to 3-0 at home this postseason after holding on to take the first game of the series settled in regulation. The Bruins, who trailed 2-0 on Tuesday, offered a spirited effort in the third period, but Bobrovsky continued to be up to the task.

"I thought we stayed together as a whole group," said Bobrovsky, who has a 1.88 goals-against average in the playoffs. "It is a huge win for us."

Boston had a power-play chance with just under nine minutes left in the game, but a Patrice Bergeron tripping call 17 seconds later negated the edge. The Blue Jackets continue to do a good job containing Boston's star trio of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Bergeron -- who have a combined one point in the series.

Though Boston was aggressive in the offensive end early, Columbus opened the scoring with 1:23 left in the first period. Jenner slipped a shot past an overcommitted Tuukka Rask (32 saves) for his first point of the series.

The Blue Jackets made it 2-0 with 7:18 to go in the second. Duchene was rewarded with his fifth goal of the playoffs toward the end of a relentless power play for Columbus, which is 3-for-11 with the man advantage in the series.

Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Harrington (4) battles for the puck against Boston Bruins center Karson Kuhlman (83) as Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Dzingel (19) skates in the second period during game three of the second round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

Boston, though, pulled one back with 39.9 seconds left in the middle period. Jake DeBrusk's shot that narrowly slid over the goal line was initially waved off, but the officials gathered, video was reviewed, and in the end the Bruins were awarded a goal.

However, that was all the offense the Bruins could manage against a Blue Jackets team that remains impressive from a defensive standpoint.

Game 4 will be played in Columbus on Thursday night.

--Field Level Media

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