Capitals top Blue Jackets in regulation, even series

Evgeny Kuznetsov had a goal and two assists, and Braden Holtby stopped 23 shots as the Washington Capitals beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Thursday night 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 workmanlike Capitals, who won this time in regulation after the first three games of the best-of-seven series were decided in overtime. Game 5 is Saturday afternoon in Washington.

Columbus had overcome multi-goal deficits to win the first two games in Washington. When the series shifted to Columbus on Tuesday, the Capitals prevailed in double overtime.

This one lacked the intensity of the first three, and there was no comeback magic for the Blue Jackets. In fact, they were just flat through a good chunk of the first two periods, chasing pucks and flubbing passes. They finally seem to get out of the quicksand near the end of the second period after coach John Tortorella started switching up the lines.

Boston 3, at Toronto 1: Brad Marchand scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and Tuukka Rask made 31 saves as the Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs to take a 3-1 lead in their firstround 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 Maple Leafs, who got 18 saves from Frederik Andersen.

Jay LaPrete Associated Press COLUMBUS’ Sergei Bobrovsky makes a save against Washington’s Chandler Stephenson during Game 4 of their first-round series. The Capitals won 4-1.