Jordan Caron nets hat trick; Bruins Rookies down Islanders 5-2

The kids are alright.

The Boston Bruins Rookies were led by Jordan Caron's hat trick performance and Adam Courchaine's solid showing in net (31 saves) as they downed the New York Islanders Rookies 5-2 on Wednesday night in front of 11,571 fans at the TD Garden.

The Bruins controlled much of the play in the first period, out-shooting the Islanders 15-9. The Baby B's had 4 power play opportunities in the opening session, but could not find the back of the net. The B's were able to move the puck well on the power play, but the Islanders penalty killers were able to keep most of the Bruins' shots to the outside. The Bruins best opportunity came at even strength with about 7 minutes left in the period when Jared Knight dug the puck out of the right wing corner and fed a pass to Tyler Seguin in the slot. Islanders goalie Mikko Koskinen got a piece of Seguin's shot before it found it's way to Jamie Arniel on the doorstep. Arniel's backhand rebound attempt got a piece of Koskinen and then rattled off the left post.

The action picked up in the second period, which featured four goals and two fights.

Jordan Caron gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead 1:01 into the second period while skating 4-on-4 on a tip-in off Matt Delahey's shot from the high slot. Ryan Button also picked up a helper on the game's first goal.

Things finally started to get physical 2:58 into the period when Antoine Roussel dropped the gloves with Travis Hamonic in the left wing corner. The bout was more wrestling than boxing as the flailing Frenchman and his opponent quickly tumbled to the ice.

About three minutes after the Roussel-Hamonic undercard, the heavyweight match between Ryan Donald and Alex O'Neil erupted. This time there were plenty of punches thrown with 18 year-old non-roster invitee Alex O'Neil of the Islanders getting the better of the former Yalee. Donald was taken to the dressing room to be looked at by the training staff, but returned to the ice minutes later.

The B's extended their lead to 2-0 at 9:26 of the middle period. Tyler Randell put a shot on net from the left circle off a nifty stop and pop move. Randell's shot was stopped by Koskinen and found it's way to the stick of Max Sauve at the the right post and he put the rebound home for the 2-goal lead.

The Islanders got on the board at 11:51 of the second period off of a face-off win. David Ullstrom won the draw back to Travis Hamonic at the right point. Hamonic's shot was deflected in front by 2010 first round draft Nino Niederreiter to make it 2-1.

The Bruins re-gained their two-goal lead at 17:38 of the second period. Tyler Seguin's lead pass sprung Lane McDermid in on a partial breakway before McDermid roofed a wrister past Kosikinen to make it 3-1 Bruins.

The Islanders pulled to within one at 3-2 7:44 in the final period. Justin Tyler gained possession of the puck off a failed clearing pass by Yury Alexandrov. Tyler skated in along the left wing and slid the puck to Robin Figren at the top of the crease.

This was about the time when the game started to turn ugly. Under a minute after the goal by Figren, Tyler Randell and Nino Neiderreiter dropped the gloves in front of the Bruins bench. Randell scored some solid shots to the face of Neiderreiter before losing balance and getting wrestled to the ice. Naturally, the Islanders took exception to Randell taking on their 5th overall draft pick and some yapping and jarring went on after the fight between the two teams. Neiderreiter, who is not known for his pugilistic skills commented on his first NHL fight, saying "I saw that Ullstrom was in a bit of trouble so I was trying to help him out. It was my first fight so I had no idea what to do but try my best to try to kick some ass."

Midway through the third period, Joe Colborne left the game after leaving a pool of blood on the ice. Justin DiBenedetto of the Islanders was given a 5 minute major for elbowing and a game misconduct on the play, but I'm not sure if that was the action that caused the injury to Colbourne. After the game, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said that Colborne had a broken nose, chipped tooth, and needed stitches. According to Tyler Seguin, who witnessed the play, described the play after the game by saying "one of their guys went to go hit [Lane] MacDermid and I think when he hit, MacDermid’s stick or the other guy’s stick came up and hit him right in the nose."

Jordan Caron made it 4-2 Boston just over a minute later on the power play. Tyler Seguin had the puck along the left wing boards and threaded a perfect pass to Caron in slot for his second goal of the game.

With just under 5 minutes remaining in the game, Matt Delahey and Tony DeHart swapped knuckles. Delahey earned the unanimous decision to the delight of the Garden crowd.

Jordan Caron put the final nail in the coffin with 32 second left in the game. Caron took the puck off the stick of an Islanders' defenseman at Caron's own blueline and skated in all alone for an empty net goal to record a hat trick and make it 5-2. When asked about how it felt to score a hat trick at the Garden and watch the hats come raining down, Caron said, "It was kind of a dream come true. Even though it was just a rookie game everybody wishes to see how it goes out on the ice. It was a nice feeling."

Notes:

Bruins Lines

Jared Knight - Tyler Seguin - Jamie Arniel
Lane MacDermid - Joe Colborne -Jordan Caron
Max Sauve - Ryan Spooner - Tyler Randell
Antoine Roussel - Craig Cunningham -Joe Pleckaitis

Matt Delahey - Steve Kampfer
Matt Bartkowski - Ryan Button
Ryan Donald - Yuri Alexandrov

Adam Courchaine
Matt Dalton

Captains

"C": Steve Kampfer

"A": Jamie Arniel and Lane McDermid

- Max Sauve weaved his way through the Islanders' defense to create a partial breakaway late in the first period, but had the puck poked off his stick by Isles netminder Mikko Koskinen.

- Highly-touted rookie Tyler Seguin finished the night with 2 assists and 2 PIMs (Interference with 4 seconds left in the first period).

"It was great, first time in an actual game wearing the Boston Bruins logo so it definitely felt nice."

- Tyler Seguin on his first game in black & gold

- The Bruins out-shot the Islanders 37-33.

- Jamie Arniel was very active today and probably wishes he could have another crack at that rebound in the first period.

- Joe Pleckaitis had a few big hits. The kid looks and plays bigger than 5'11" 179 lbs.

- Line of the Night: "El Nino is nothing more than a tropical depression"

- The Bruins and Islanders will take the ice again tommorow at 7:00 at the TD Garden to run this one back. Tickets are $5 and proceeds benefit the Bruins Foundation. Joe Colborne is not expected to play tomorrow night. Look for Matt Dalton to get the nod in net.