Back On Track: Bruins Beat The Islanders 4-2

Jan 25, 2013; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46), defenseman Andrew Ference (21), defenseman Adam McQuaid (54) and left wing Daniel Paille (20) surround center Gregory Campbell (11) after he scored during the second period against the New York Islanders at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins came into tonight’s game against the New York Islanders hoping to get back on track after their overtime loss to the Rangers two nights ago. After the Islanders put up a seven spot on Toronto the night before, the Bruins knew that this game was not going to be easy. The Islanders definitely showed that they have improved from last year and should not be taken lightly on any night.

The Bruins opened the scoring in the first period when Shawn Thornton put back a rebound from Dougie Hamilton’s shot from the point. Just a minute later, Milan Lucic finally dropped the gloves for the first time this season, Lucic sent Matt Carkner down to the ice with a mean right hook, but was there really any surprise there? Massachusetts’s native, Keith Aucoin, tied the game about half way through the period with his second goal of the season and the teams went into the intermission tied at one goal a piece.

The Islanders started the second period on a power play and nearly took the lead right away. A shot that seemed to have gotten through Tuukka Rask’s five hole was denied when he quickly brought his leg around and kept the puck from going into the net to keep the score tied at one. About half way through the second, Aucion scored his second of the game to take the lead 2-1. The play started when Paille failed to connect his pass from behind the net and Aucoin ripped a laser past Rask. The Bruins answered just four minutes later when Gregory Campbell got his first of the season. David Krejci put a shot on net that went off a defensemen’s skate and Campbell happened to be in the right place at the right time. He slotted the puck past DiPietro to tie the game at two. The teams went into the locker tied up at two.

The third period was when the Bruins started to turn the intensity on. The Bruins seemed to have opportunity after opportunity in the third period and everyone in the Garden knew a goal was coming. The captain, Zdeno Chara, scored his first of the season when he slapped a wrist shot by DiPietro and gave the Bruins the lead 3-2 just seven minutes into the third. The Bruins kept pressing, and with seven minutes left in the game, Patrice Bergeron skated past the defense and scored a break away goal to seemingly put the game out of reach for the Islanders. The Islanders pulled DiPietro with almost two minutes left in the game but couldn’t find the net.

It certainly wasn’t easy or pretty, but the Bruins got the job done tonight and earned a much needed home win. With the Bruins fourth line playing like it did tonight, with high energy and creating goals, is a very good sign for the Bruins. With Dougie Hamilton playing like he is at such an early stage of his career, you would think he has done this before. This is a great start to the season for the Bruins, earning seven points out of a possible eight. The Bruins take a well-deserved two days off and return to the ice Monday night against the Hurricanes in Carolina.