Recap: Bruins shut down Islanders in 4-0 win

Tuukka Rask made 25 saves as the Boston Bruins shut out the Islanders 4-0 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum this afternoon.

The game was delayed 39 minutes due to a ceremony for Butch Goring’s number being retired running late. But that didn’t seem to affect the Bruins, as they got off to a strong start.

The Bruins took an early lead at 4:30 in the first period when David Pastrnak netted his 47^th goal of the season. Torey Krug saw Patrice Bergeron driving to the net, where he sent a wrist shot from the left-wing circle that went too wide. Bergeron literally crashed the net, knocking down Semyon Varlamov in the process.

The puck bounced over to Pastrnak along the ring-wing boards where he capitalized on Varlamov trying to get back in position and sent a one-timer into the net, to make the score, 1-0. The Islanders did not challenge the goal with goalie interference.

Matt Grzelcyk gave the Bruins a two-goal advantage at 13:10 in the first period. Brad Marchand slid the puck to Grzelcyk at the left point where he looked to make a pass to Charlie McAvoy on the other side, which hit the leg of Johnny Boychuk and redirected the puck over the stick of Varlamov, to make the score, 2-0.

The Bruins broke out of their zone and through the neutral zone nicely during the first period, which led to opportunities. The Bs didn’t have any power plays in the first, but the penalty kill was aggressive, with Charlie Coyle being impactful. Brandon Carlo also had a strong period with rushes and seemed to be on fire in the offensive zone.

Jeremy Lauzon left during the period after catching a shot to his face, but returned to the bench to start the second period.

The Bruins held the Islanders to four shots in the second period and shut down the Isle’s two power-play opportunities. Although the Bruins couldn’t make anything happen on their own power plays during the period, they had some good chances from Marchand that Varlamov came up big for. The period ended scoreless, with the Bruins not letting the Islanders spend much time in the Bs zone and also outshooting them 23-12 through the two frames.

The Islanders came out strong to start the third period, dominating offensive zone time, but were unable to break past the Bruins’ defense and Rask. But the Islanders’ pressure was short-lived.

The Bruins extended their lead with Marchand’s 27^th goal of the season at 11:06 in the third period. Patrice Bergeron knocked down a shot from Charlie McAvoy at the point where Marchand picked up the loose puck. Marchand held off Ryan Pulock behind the net and wrapping around to the front of the net, he put a backhand through Varlamov’s five-hole, to make the score, 3-0.

The Bruins defense picked up their second goal of the game, and 7^th point of the night, as Charlie McAvoy netted his 4^th goal of the season at 16:26 in the third period on the power play. From the left side, Krug took a shot. David Krejci couldn’t put his stick on the rebound, so Krug picked up the puck and wrapped around the net. He found McAvoy sliding down to on the top of the right-wing circle for a one timer that went top shelf over Varlamov’s stick, to make the final score, 4-0.

The Bruins held off the Islanders for the remainder of the game and Rask earned the shutout.

Noteworthy

• McAvoy had a three-point game. He has points in six of his last eight games.
• Rask earned his 4^th shutout of the season.
• It was Kase’s 200^th career game.
• Marchand improved to a nine-game point streak, with a goal in each of his last three games.

The Bruins are back in action on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road.