Final, Islanders 4-2: The Bruins' losing streak hits a season-high four games as they blow a two-goal lead and fall to the Islanders.
Boston was beaten in this one in areas where they usually excel. The Bruins were an NHL-best 22-8-4 on the road before this one. They had also been 25-0-1 when leading after two periods and had outscored opponents 80-46 in the third period. The Islanders were just 3-21-3 when trailing after two and had been outscored 73-54 in the third before this game. But on this night, new York scored the only three goals in the final period to shock the Bruins.
Boston will try again to end its skid when the Bruins continue their road trip in Columbus on Tuesday.
Third Period, 19:50, Islanders 4-2: Patrice Bergeron hooks down P.A. Parenteau with an open net, so the Islanders are awarded the goal to put this one away.
Third Period, 19:00, Islanders 3-2: Thomas is out for the extra attacker.
Third Period, 17:10, Islanders 3-2: The Bruins have shortened their bench in the third with Brad Marchand and Matt Bartkowski seeing little or no action in the third. Recchi, Lucic and Campbell have all seen time in Marchand's spot with Bergeron and Peverley.
Third Period, 15:12, Islanders 3-2: The Bruins kill off the penalty, though McQuaid was hobbled after blocking a Milan Jurcina shot late in the power play.
Third Period, 13:12, Islanders 3-2: The Bruins now have a big penalty kill as Nathan Horton goes for for interference for a hit on Jack Hillen away from the puck. Hillen went after Horton, who drops his gloves. Hillen doesn't and no further penalties are called.
Third Period, 11:21, Islanders 3-2: Grabner nearly gets another with a partial break as he gets a step on Chara, but he can't quite finish this one off.
Third Period, 10:33, Islanders 3-2: The fourth line finally puts some pressure on the Islanders, keeping the puck in deep for a while to slow New York's momentum with a much-needed energy shift for the Bruins.
Third Period, 5:58, Islanders 3-2: The Islanders take their first lead as Jack Hillen blasts one in from the left point.
It actually went in off Dennis Seidenberg in front, and may have been heading wide if it didn't hit the Bruins defenseman.
Third Period, 1:28, 2-2: The Islanders pull even as Michael Grabner finally converts one of his chances on a rebound in the right slot.
Thomas made the initial save on a deflected shot, butcouldn't stop Grabner's turnaround shot on the rebound.
Third Period, 0:27, Bruins 2-1: Big early chance for the Bruins, as Recchi sends a pass from the left boards to Bergeron in front, but his tip on net is saved by Montoya.
Third Period, 0:00, Bruins 2-1: The final frame is under way, with the Bruins looking to close out this win after the Islanders grabbed the momentum with a goal in the closing seconds of the second period.
Second Intermission Notes: The Bruins almost got to the third period with the two-goal lead they wanted, but Matt Moulson cut that in half with two seconds left in the second period. Now this third period is going to be a little more interesting than the Bruins may have hoped.
Boston finally broke through on the power play for its second goal, although it took a two-man advantage to do it. Zdeno Chara got the goal. He doesn't seem bothered by the booing, with two shots, three blocked shots and a takeaway in 17:23 so far. The Bruins have 16 blocked shots as a team, led by Tomas Kaberle's four, but are still being outshot 29-20. The Islanders also have a 13-7 edge in hits. It hasn't been a particularly physical game, but Shawn Thornton and Zenon Konopka did have words after the final buzzer in the second.
The Bruins are dominating the draws, going 29-14 (67 percent). Greg Campbell and Chris Kelly are both 6-2 and Patrice Bergeron is 11-6.
End Second Period, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins will go into the third at even strength, but with just a one-goal lead after Moulson's late power-play strike.
Second Period, 19:58, Bruins 2-1: The Islanders get a big goal just before the end of period as Matt Moulson sneaks one inside the neat post from the right slot with just two seconds left in the second.
Second Period, 18:45, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins will be shorthanded to end the period as Brad Marchand is called for interference. Big kill for Boston to maintain their two-goal edge heading into the third.
Second Period, 15:41, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins are continuing the pressure at even strength. Greg Campbell with the latest chance on a rebound at the left post after a Chara shot from the point.
Second Period, 13:02, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins finally break through on the two-man advantage with Zdeno Chara getting his revenge on the boo birds with the goal.
Chara blasted home a one-timer from the right point off a feed from David Krejci.
Second Period, 12:36, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins catch a couple breaks, as Thomas stops Grabner on a shorthanded bid after a Chara giveaway, then Frans Nielsen cross-checks Chara. Boston will have a 5-on-3 for 53 seconds. If they can't break through on the power play now, they may never.
Second Period, 11:28, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins get another shot on the power play, as old friend Milan Jurcina is called for holding Shawn Thonton behind the Islanders net.
Second Period, 9:14, Bruins 1-0: Matt Moulson gets behind the defense and takes a pass from P.A. Parenteau to break in alone on Thomas, but Thomas comes up with another huge save.
Second Period, 5:32, Bruins 1-0: Johnny Boychuk breaks down the middle off a play set up from a neutral zone faceoff win and nearly makes it 2-0 with a shot from between the circles.
Second Period, 0:49, Bruins 1-0: Matt Martin breaks in down the right wing, slides around diving Johnny Boychuk, but Thomas goes into the split to make the save at the right post.
Second Period, 0:00, Bruins 1-0: The middle frame is under way on Long Island, where the bruins will look to extend their one-goal lead.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins got the lead they were looking for thanks to another goal from the top line and some strong work by Tim Thomas.
The risk is wearing out Thomas again by playing him too much, but starting him in this one has paid off so far. Thomas (11 saves) made some sharp saves, robbing Michael Grabner a few times and coming up big against the Isles' power play.
Boston's power play was 0 for 2 and is now 0 for 21 over the last nine games and just 1 for 26 since Tomas Kaberle was added to "improve" that unit. At least the top line continues to pile up points, with Nathan Horton scoring his 20th goal from Milan Lucic and David Krejci. That line is carrying the bruins offense of late, but they need to start getting production from the other combinations.
Zdeno Chara played a game-high 9:22 in the first, and the former Islander has been booed every time he touches the puck. The Bruins captain is officially Public Enemy No. 1 around the NHL now.
End First Period, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins get out of the first with a one-goal lead thanks to some big early saves by Thomas and a late goal by Horton.
First Period, 19:10, Bruins 1-0: Thomas with a big save late on John Tavares at the left post to keep it 1-0.
First Period, 16:29, Bruins 1-0: Nathan Horton bangs in a rebound to oopen the scoring, as the Bruins jump out to an early lead.
Milan Lucic had the initial shot from the right slot off a feed from David Krejci, and Horton collected the rebound at left post, kicking it from his skate to his backhand and flipping it home for his 20th goal of the year.
First Period, 15:13, 0-0: Better movement and chances for the Bruins on that power play, but same result – no goal for the 21st straight time on the man-advantage.
First Period, 13:13, 0-0: The Bruins are back on the man-advantage as Kyle Okposo goes for boarding after a dangerous hit from behind into the boards on Milan Lucic.
First Period, 12:39, 0-0: The Bruins kill the penalty, but it got a little dicey in the final seconds with several Islanders' chances in front, followed by a quick scrum as Thomas finally tied it up for the whistle.
First Period, 10:39, 0-0: The Bruins will be shorthanded now as Matt Bartkowski is sent to the box for hooking.
First Period, 10:13, 0-0: Relatively quiet start to this one. A few chances both ways, but mostly teams seem to be feeling each other out in the early stages.
First Period, 5:25, 0-0: The Bruins' power-play struggles continue, with no shots on goal, though Chara did hit the post early. Boston is now 0 for 20 on the man-advantage over the last eight-plus games.
First Period, 3:25, 0-0: The Bruins get the first power play chance of the night as Justin DiBenedetto goes off for roughing after a hit after a whistle for icing.
First Period, 2:20, 0-0: Michael Grabner with a bid at the left post denied by Thomas. Grabner leads all rookies with 27 goals after being picked up off waivers.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: This one is under way in Uniondale, where the Bruins will look to end their three-game losing streak against a resurgent Islanders squad that has yet to lose in regulation this month.
7 p.m.: The Bruins will open this one with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Rich Peverley up front, Zdeno Chara and Adam McQuaid on defense and Tim Thomas in goal.
The Isles counter with Matt Martin, Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau up front, Jack Hillen and Radek Martinek on the blue line and Al Montoya in net.
6:55 p.m.: Tyler Seguin is officially the healthy scratch again for the Bruins.
Trevor Gillies out for Islanders as he continues to serve his 10-game suspension. Blake Comeau is in the lineup after missing practice Thursday with a sore neck.
6:45 p.m.: Looks like Tim Thomas will get the start in goal for the second straight night. Tuukka Rask had played (and won) the first two meetings against the Islanders this year.
Al Montoya is in net for New York.
6:30 p.m.: This could be a physical one. After Thursday's three fights, the Bruins are second in the league with 66 fighting majors, just one behind leadue-leading Pittsburgh.
The Islanders are fifth with 52. New York also likes to hit, especially forward Matt Martin. He's third in the league with 252 hits after registering 14 on Tuesday. Those 252 hits have come in just 54 games, as Martin actually leads the league in hits per game with 4.67. With Zenon Konopka leading the league in penalty minutes with 239 (75 more than Steve Ott in second place) and second in the league with 21 fighting majors, the Bruins may want to keep their heads up in this one.
6 p.m.: The Bruins will look to snap a three-game losing streak as they begin a four-game road trip with a stop on Long Island to face the Islanders in about an hour.
After playing Thursday night, the Bruins did not hold a morning skate on Friday. Only Tyler Seguin and Tuukka Rask went on the ice. Seguin getting in some extra work, coupled with Claude Julien's statement that he wasn't planning any lineup changes, would indicate that the rookie will be a healthy scratch again in this one.
8 a.m.: After putting together a season-high, seven-game win streak, the Bruins have now matched their longest losing streak of the season with three straight defeats.
The latest loss came at the TD Garden on Thursday, when Boston fell to Buffalo 4-3 in overtime. Penalties doomed the Bruins in that game, with the Sabres scoring twice on seven power-play opportunities. Those chances included a pair of extended two-man advantages.
The Bruins will have to show better discipline on Friday against a physical New York club that has been known to draw opponents into taking penalties. The Bruins typically thrive in physical games, so this might be the right kind of opponent to turn things around against.
The Bruins have also been much stronger on the road this year, so embarking on another trip, this one for four games, could help the Bruins get back on track as well. The Bruins are 22-8-4 on the road this year, including a perfect 6-0-0 on their last road trip. That journey began in Long Island as well, and the Bruins hope this trip will be as successful.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
