BOSTON — The Arizona Coyotes got word from the hospital after the second period that center Alexander Burmistrov seemed to be doing OK.

By then, it was too late for them to get back into the game.

Riley Nash scored a short-handed goal after Colin Miller was ejected for a bone-rattling hit that sent Burmistrov off on a stretcher, and the Boston Bruins pulled away with a three-goal second period to beat the Coyotes 4-1 on Tuesday night.

“When it’s as serious as that, it maybe takes a couple of minutes for everyone to get back to playing hockey,” said Arizona goalie Mike Smith, who was pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots and put the blame on himself.

“When the signal gets made, and the paramedics come on the ice, it’s always hard to deal with,” he said. “But that’s no excuse.”

Miller was given a 5-minute major and game misconduct for knocking Burmistrov onto his back in the second period. Burmistrov remained motionless on the ice for several minutes but gave a thumbs-up with both hands as he was wheeled off on a stretcher.

The Coyotes said Burmistrov was taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Captain Shane Doan said the team was told during the second break that Burmistrov seemed to pass the initial tests; it wasn’t clear if he would have to remain in Boston overnight.

“Everything up until this point is great,” Doan said. “Everything that you’re really worried about seems to be OK.”

Miller said he texted Burmistrov and explained he wasn’t trying to hurt him.

“He said he understood,” Miller said. “It’s a hockey play.”

With Miller in the dressing room and Boston a man down for three minutes, the Bruins scored three goals in the last 13 minutes of the second – including a pair jut 1:44 apart at the end of the period – to pull away.

“I don’t know if that helped the team or not,” Miller said. “But they did a great job killing it off.”

Tuukka Rask had 22 saves for the Bruins, who have won 6 of 7 games since firing Coach Claude Julien and replacing him with Bruce Cassidy.

Louis Domingue stopped all 11 shots he faced after replacing Smith to start the third period.

Burmistrov, 25, is a 2010 first-round draft pick from Russia who has one goal and 10 assists this season.