Bruins Get Mixed Answers Against Islanders

For the fourth time in as many trips this season Long Island, the Boston Bruins lost to the New York Islanders, 2-1, in a shootout Tuesday night. Unlike their previous three trips to the Nassau Coliseum, the Bruins were able to secure a point in the standings against the first place Isles.

Tuesday, we had three questions facing the Bruins ahead of last night’s game. We got the answer to those questions and some were promising, while one went the way it has gone in the previous games against the Islanders.

1. Can the Bruins play better in front of Halak?

In the first 10 minutes of the game, the Islanders came out and picked up where they left off against the Black and Gold in their previous meeting when they scored five goals in the third period and had constant pressure on Jaroslav Halak. Despite pinning the B’s in their own end, the Isles ended up with five shots on net, but nothing found the back of the net as Halak came up with some big saves early. As the game went on, the Bruins played better and better in front of their goalie.

The only goal given up by the Bruins prior to the shootout was a power play goal from the Islanders late in the second period.

2. Will the Bruins finally solve Varlamov?

Once against, Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov got the best of the Bruins. Boston had 33 shots on the net in the game, with Varlamov stopping 32 shots and then two of the three shootout attempts.

David Pastrnak scored the only Bruins goal with 28 seconds left in the first period on a shot from the point on the power play. After that, Varlamov stopped everything else, including a stick save on David Krejci who was looking at an open net in the second period on the man advantage. In four games this season, Varlamov has stopped 122 of 127 shots Boston has on the net in the four games this season. Here’s hoping the tide turns when the Isles make their four visits to Boston in the next month.

3. Can the Bruins win the third period?

For the fourth straight game, the B’s and Isles went into the third period tied. In the first three games, the Bruins were outscored 8-0 in the final 20 minutes, but this time they were able to secure a point by playing a scoreless period, despite being outshot 9-4.

Yes, there was a golden opportunity to take the second point either in overtime or the shootout, but after the first three trips to Uniondale, the B’s will head back home with one point. The Islanders have got points in nine straight games and are the hottest team in the league right. Time to turn the page and get ready for two games at home against the New York Rangers.