Bruins, Blue Jackets face off with series tied 2-2
Columbus Blue Jackets (47-31-4, fifth in the Metropolitan Division during the regular season) vs. Boston Bruins (49-24-9, second in the Atlantic Division during the regular season)
Boston; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Series tied 2-2
BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins host the Columbus Blue Jackets in game five of the Eastern Conference second round with the series tied 2-2. The teams meet Saturday for the eighth time this season. The Bruins won the last matchup 4-1. Patrice Bergeron scored a team-high two goals for the Bruins in the victory.
The Bruins are 29-19-4 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston averages 9.7 penalty minutes per game, the second-most in the NHL. Brad Marchand leads the team serving 96 total minutes.
The Blue Jackets have gone 25-14-2 away from home. Columbus has scored 34 power-play goals, converting on 15.4 percent of chances.
TOP PERFORMERS: Marchand leads the Bruins with 100 total points, scoring 36 goals and registering 64 assists. Charlie Coyle has five goals and two assists over the last 10 games for Boston.
Josh Anderson leads the Blue Jackets with a plus-25 in 82 games played this season. Artemi Panarin has six goals and seven assists over the last 10 games for Columbus.
DURING THE PLAYOFFS: Blue Jackets: Averaging 3.4 goals, 5.5 assists, 3.4 penalties and 9.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game with a .933 save percentage.
Bruins: Averaging 3.0 goals, 4.6 assists, 2.9 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game with a .931 save percentage.
Bruins Injuries: Kevan Miller: out (upper body), John Moore: day to day (upper body).
Blue Jackets Injuries: Markus Nutivaara: day to day (upper body).