RECAP: Bruins outlast Islanders in a chippy affair

First Period:

The Bruins came out flying, quickly nabbing a 9-2 SOG advantage only 5 minutes into the game. From there, it turned into a defensive struggle, and fast. The only power play went to the Islanders, a Zdeno Chara slashing penalty that was quickly killed off. While the Bruins landed an 11-4 SOZ advantage for the period as a whole, something has to break. AFTER 1: Bruins 0, Islanders 0.

Second Period:

This is where things started to get chippy. After a big hit on Charlie McAvoy by Casey Cizikas, Jake DeBrusk stepped up to the plate and dropped the gloves with the Islanders fourth liner. DeBrusk netted a 2, 5, and 10 for his duties. The lone goal came from Brad Marchand on the power play, a soft wrister that somehow snuck under Jaroslav Halak’s pads.

The Islanders weren’t without chances this period, however, as they climbed to 18 shots, compared to the Bruins’ 23 pucks on goal. AFTER 2: Bruins 1, Islanders 0.

Third Period:

Brad Marchand takes a highly unnecessary major penalty getting his hands in the face of John Tavares only 25 seconds into the third. With sone lucky breaks (a few Isles minors), they were able to kill it off completely. Then, Jake DeBrusk struck.

Absolutely scintillating.

David Backes got thrown out of the game with 8:13 left for getting into a scuffle with Andrew Ladd, receiving a head-butting five minute major and a game misconduct. Anders Lee got a doorstep tap-in right as Frank Vatrano came out of the box from serving Backes’ minor with 3:08 left.

With an empty net, Danton Heinen sealed the deal on a 3-1 victory!