The Bruins were able to hang on to beat the New York Islanders 3-2 at TD Garden on Wednesday night to surpassed the 100-point mark for the season. With the win, the Bruins sit at 45-24-11 (101 points).
Shawn Thornton marked his return to the lineup by giving the Bruins a 1-0 lead with 0.1 second left on the clock in the first period when he hammered home a shot from the top of the crease passed the diving glove of Rick DiPietro. The goal was Thornton's 10th of the season, marking a career-high for the Bruins tough guy.
The Islanders knotted the game up at 1-1 with a power play goal from Michael Grabner 3:24 into the second period while Rich Peverley (tripping) looked on from the bench. Blake Comeau chased down a dump-in by goalie Rick DiPietro and fed a cross-crease pass to Grabner, who was stationed to Tim Thomas' left. Grabner's shot got past Thomas for the rookie's 32nd goal of the season.
Dennis Seidenberg's one-timer regained the Boston lead at 2-1 with 12:09 remaining in the middle period. Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley picked up the helpers on Seidenberg's 7th goal of the season.
Gregory Campbell extended the Bruins lead to 3-1 just 1:18 after Seidenberg's strike. Adam McQuaid's shot took an odd bounce off of the end boards causing it to hop over the stick of an Islanders defenseman going back to retrieve the puck. Campbell was able to control the puck, skate to in front of the goal line and fire a shot through the pads of Rick DiPietro for his 13th tally of the season.
The Islanders cut the lead to 3-2 with a shorthanded goal by Michael Grabner. Grabner beat Tomas Kaberle in a foot race to the puck after Josh Bailey chipped the puck into space in the neutral zone. Grabner tracked the puck down and roofed a backhander over Tim Thomas for his 2nd goal of the game.
Notes:
The Bruins handed out some of their annual awards before tonight's game:
Gallery Gods Eddie Shore Award (Exceptional Hustle & Determination): Shawn Thornton
Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy (Best Player in Home Games): Tim Thomas
John Bucyk Award (Involvement in Community): Andrew Ference
3 Star Awards:
3rd Star: Milan Lucic
2nd Star: Patrice Bergeron
1st Star: Tim Thomas
- Mark Recchi moved into a 4th place tie with Chris Chelios on the all-time games played list (1,651).
- Tomas Kaberle played in his 900th career NHL game, while Nathan Horton played in his 500th career contest.
- The Bruins went 0-5 on the power play including a 2-minute 5-on-3 advantage in the first period.
- The Bruins are now 2 points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the 2nd spot in the Eastern Conference. Bot teams have 2 games left to play.
- Tyler Seguin, Steven Kampfer, and Shane Hnidy were the healthy scratches for the Bruins.
- Tim Thomas made 30 saves to earn his 34th win of the season.
- The 4th line was the bright spot for the B's tonight.
- Gregory Campbell finished with 2 points (1-1-2) and was a +2.
- The Bruins will take on the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon before heading to New Jersey on Sunday to wrap up the regular season.
- For more on tonight's game, visit Lighthouse Hockey