Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson, left, celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets with teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov, of Russia, during Game 4 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson, left, celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets with teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov, of Russia, during Game 4 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) Credit: ap — Jay LaPrete

Columbus, Ohio — 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-7 series were decided in overtime. Game 5 is on 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.

Boone Jenner scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky had 29 saves for Columbus.

Washington led 1-0 after the opening period. Just after Columbus’ Thomas Vanek knocked the puck out of the blue paint with his glove, Kuznetsov shoveled the carom from the right boards out to Wilson, who connected from above the circle at 6:16.

The Capitals got their second halfway through the second period on a power play when Oshie flicked in a rebound. Ovechkin’s third-period goal made it 3-0.

Jenner redirected Josh Anderson’s slap shot 6:22 into the third to make it a 3-1 game and finally give the record Nationwide Arena crowd of 19,395 something to cheer about. Kuznetsov added an empty-net goal with 2:19 left in the game.

Predators Forward Suspended

Nashville, Tenn. — The NHL suspended Nashville Predators forward Ryan Hartman for Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche for an illegal check to the head of Carl Soderberg. The league’s Department of Player Safety issued the suspension Thursday after a hearing.

Hartman was penalized for charging Soderberg at 4:52 of the third period. Soderberg was skating across the blue line and had just passed the puck to a teammate when Hartman hit him in the head.

The Predators lead their first-round, best-of-seven series 3-1 and can clinch tonight at home.

The Avalanche will go with backup goaltender Andrew Hammond for Game 5 in Nashville after starter Jonathan Bernier suffered a lower-body injury.

Hammond stepped in Wednesday to begin the third period after Bernier was ruled out. Hammond stopped all eight shots he faced in his first playoff appearance since April 17, 2015, while with Ottawa.

The 30-year-old Hammond was acquired as part of a three-team trade in November that sent Matt Duchene to the Senators.