Bruins take 3-1 series lead over Maple Leafs

Brad Marchand scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and Tuukka Rask made 31 saves as the Bruins beat the host Maple Leafs 3-1 on Thursday night to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Torey Krug and Jake DeBrusk also had goals for the Bruins, who can win the Eastern Conference quarterfinal when they host Game 5 on Saturday at Boston’s TD Garden. David Pastrnak added two assists.

Tomas Plekanec scored the lone goal for the Leafs, who got 18 saves from Frederik Andersen.

Patrice Bergeron, part of a top line that combined for 20 points in the Bruins’ two home victories to open the series, was a surprise late scratch with an upperbody injury. Riley Nash took his spot between Marchand and Pastrnak.

Marchand snapped a 1-1 tie for the Bruins with 3:05 left in the second after the Bruins were called for icing. Leafs coach Mike Babcock put out his top line, centered by Auston Matthews, hoping to pounce on a tired group, but Nash won the draw to Adam McQuaid, whose clearing attempt up the boards skipped past Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner. Pastrnak moved in on a 2-on-1 with Marchand, faking a shot to draw the overaggressive Nikita Zaitsev to him before feeding his linemate with a slick pass for a wide-open net.

The Leafs had a number of chances earlier in the period to go ahead, including Mitch Marner’s breakaway off a stretch pass from Morgan Rielly that Rask turned aside, but were unable to score.

Evgeny Kuznetsov had a goal and two assists, and Braden Holtby stopped 23 shots as the Capitals beat the host Blue Jackets to even their playoff series at two games apiece. Tom Wilson and Alexander Ovechkin each had a goal and an assist, and T.J. Oshie also scored for the Capitals. Game 5 is Saturday afternoon in Washington.

The NHL suspended Predators forward Ryan Hartman for Game 5 against the Avalanche for an illegal check to the head of Carl Soderberg.