Rask & Hall Help Bruins Finally Beat the Islanders

It took six tries, but the Boston Bruins finally beat the New York Islanders in 2021 Thursday night at the TD Garden. After losing the first five games, three in regulation, one in overtime, and one in a shootout, the Black and Gold broke through against the second-place Isles, 4-1 to remain four points ahead of the New York Rangers for the final East Division playoff spot.

Taylor Hall scored his first goal as a Bruin and goalie Tuukka Rask, playing for the first time since March 25, picked up his 300th career victory.

The Bruins came flying out of the gate and opened the scoring just under two minutes into the game when a deflected shot hit Brad Marchand in the back and went under the crossbar. However, the referee waved no goal and the play continued down the other end where Rask covered the puck. Following the stoppage, the play was reviewed and it was confirmed the puck crossed the goal-line for a 1-0 Boston lead.

Craig Smith, the hottest Bruin right now, doubled the Black and Gold’s lead to 2-0 with a power play goal late in the first period. Ah yes, the opening period. It certainly felt the Bruins should have had a bigger lead than 2-0. They outshot the Islanders, 23-7, but only went 1-for-4 on the man advantage. Safe to say that the first period was one of the better efforts in an opening period all season.

Consistent production is something that the power play is missing. They had some good offensive zone time, but the Isles are a good team at sacrificing the body and blocking shots. It felt like that more Boston shots get blocked against NYI than any other team.

Of course, the Islanders responded in the second period and took advantage of the Bruins not being able to get the puck out of their end. Marchand, of all people, had a sloppy turnover at the blue line that led to a Travis Zajac goal. Getting pucks out of the end has been an issue with the Bruins lately. They were lucky not to have been burned by the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday night, but Isles made them pay.

Entering the third period, the Bruins had been outscored 10-1 by the Islanders this season, but Hall quickly restored the Bruins’ two-goal lead early in the period when he scored on a partial breakaway. Marchand closed out the game with an empty-netter.

Bruins newcomers continue to impress.

Hall was the big name acquired at the trade deadline, but both Mike Reilly on defense and Curtis Lazar have impressed in their first two games wearing the Spoked-B. Lazar has brought some serious energy to the fourth line and it also has seemed to light a first under Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner. Their first shift of the game set the tone for the period and the game.

Rask made 22 saves in his return from an upper-body injury and looked calm, cool, and collective for someone who has played one period of hockey since March 7.  The frustration of David Pastrnak is showing, but Thursday night was a better night for Pasta with more scoring chances than in past games. You have to believe that sooner or later, he’s going to find the back of the net.

It was the start of a crucial three-game stretch at home, but they were able to collect two valuable points in the East Division against the Islanders. There is little time to savor this win as the two teams get back at it Friday night.