The Boston Bruins earned a point in a back-and-forth game tonight with the New York Islanders, falling 4-3 in overtime at the TD Garden. The Bs remain winless against the Islanders, dropping to a 0-3-2 record facing them.
Although the Bruins found the net with 5v5 and secondary scoring, they couldn’t hold onto the lead they set in the first period.
The Bruins opened the scoring at 11:42 in the first period. Anders Bjork did a nice job of gaining entry into the offensive zone and getting the puck to Charlie McAvoy. McAvoy hit Karson Kuhlman with a cross-ice pass where at the left outside hash marks, he put a wrister past Semyon Varlamov’s glove. 1-0 Bruins.
Shoot from anywhere.@K_Kuhlman20 | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/Q8e5xIi1rv
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 25, 2021
The Bruins extended their lead with a power-play goal at 17:35 in the first period. With three seconds left on the man-advantage, McAvoy fed Steven Kampfer a pass at the top of the left face-off circle for a one-timer past Varlamov’s stick. 2-0 Bruins.
#NHLBruins | @SteveKampfer47 pic.twitter.com/E5dlkp8zia
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 25, 2021
There was a chance for the Bruins to get a 5-on-3 power play, but the refs missed a bloody high-stick to Patrice Bergeron. Oof.
Despite the missed call, the Bruins dominated the period and had a strong showing from the defense. Matt Grzelcyk, Charlie McAvoy and Steven Kampfer were offensively aggressive, but also came up big with blocked shots to hold off the Islanders in front of Tuukka Rask.
Kuhlman, Charlie Coyle and Bjork also had a great period and were effective during their time on ice.
Rask made six stops in the first period, but the Bruins announced via Twitter that he would not return to the game (upper-body).
The Bruins ended up getting back a man-advantage opportunity as Scott Mayfield was called for a double minor for high-sticking Bergeron three minutes into the second.
Although they didn’t score, Kampfer continued to have a night and it looked like he was going to pot another goal. The Bs defense had an impactful game, getting pucks to the net and keeping plays alive.
The Islanders cut into their deficit with a goal at 7:21 in the second period. The Bruins couldn’t capitalize on the double minor and moments after returning to even strength, the Bs turned the puck over for Leo Komarov to break through the neutral zone and down the boards where he tried to set up Mayfield. Instead of shooting, Mayfield found Jean-Gabriel Pageau crashing the net for a one-timer past Halak. 2-1.
Komarov-->Mayfield-->Pageau--> pic.twitter.com/FueBWcdfRW
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 26, 2021
The penalty kill and subsequent goal gave the Isles a boost and they controlled the tempo to close out the second.
The Islanders kept that momentum going to start the third and tied the game at 4:33 in the final frame. Brock Nelson fed Josh Bailey the puck where from the left face-off dot, he let a quick snap shot fly past Halak. 2-2 game.
Brock with the feed and Bailey with the rip!
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 26, 2021
All tied at 2 with a few ticks under 14 minutes to play! pic.twitter.com/tDQR11XUL7
The Islanders took the lead late at 17:04 in the third period. Pageau fed Oliver Wahlstrom the puck in the front where he put a backhander top-shelf over Halak’s glove. 3-2 Islanders.
Oliver Wahlstrom
— Islanders Videos (@SNY_Islanders) March 26, 2021
The New Englander scores at TD Garden
(via @IslesMSGN)pic.twitter.com/3hOn6ZXvd0
Just when it looked like the Bruins were going to succumb to another regulation loss, Anders Bjork scored a well-deserved game-tying goal at 17:58 in the third period. Coyle found Bjork coming down the slot for a one-timer past Varlamov. 3-3.
Anders Bjork ties things up. pic.twitter.com/fVe3eh0g9t
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) March 26, 2021
But just 21 seconds into overtime, Anthony Beauvillier ended it for the Islanders to give them the 4-3 win.
ANOTHER ANTHONY BEAUVILLIER OT WINNER!
— Islanders Videos (@SNY_Islanders) March 26, 2021
(via @IslesMSGN)pic.twitter.com/wbpk7WU7KM
The Bruins are back in action Saturday for 1 pm start against the Buffalo Sabres.