Final, Bruins 6-3: And this one is in the books, with the Bruins taking a 6-3 win with a huge third period at the Garden.
Boston scored four goals in the final period to pull away with the win. Rich Peverley clicked well on a line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, as Peverley finished with a goal and two assists.
The Bruins go back on the road for a pair of games against the Canadiens, playing Sunday in Halifax and Monday in Montreal.
Third Period, 18:53, Bruins 6-3: Some rough stuff late as David Krejci lays out an Islander with a huge hit in the corner, then gets jumped by Justin DiBenedetto, leading to a huge scrum along the boards.
DiBenedetto gets gets two for instigating, an extra two for instigating with an visor, five for fighting an a game misconduct. Krejci gets just five for fighting.
Third Period, 16:00, Bruins 6-3: And another goal for the Bruins, as Rich Peverley swoops in for the unassisted goal at the right post.
Third Period, 15:14, Bruins 5-3: The Bruins strike again, this time with Johnny Boychuk firing in a blast from the right point to extend the lead.
Third Period, 12:50, Bruins 4-3: The Bruins continue to keep the pressure on, with the Bergeron line especially effective in creating chances.
Third Period, 8:17, Bruins 4-3: The continued pressure from the Bruins pays off as Brad Marchand gives Boston its first lead of the night.
Marchand scored from low in the right slot with linemates Bergeron and Peverley picking up the assists. So far in this one having Peverley in Recchi's old spot on that line has looked pretty good.
Third Period, 7:13, 3-3: The Bruins are dominating play right now, peppering Nilsson with shots. Boston has a 31-14 edge in shots, but it remains tied at 3-3.
Third Period, 4:11, 3-3: The Bruins do pull even on the power play as Dennis Seidenberg pinches in from the point to bury a one-timer from the right circle.
Seidenberg made the backdoor cut and Rich Peverley found him with a perfect crossing pass from the left slot. Patrice Bergeron picked up the second assist on the play.
Third Period, 3:11, Islanders 3-2: The Bruins with a chance early in the third to pull even as they go on the power play with Islanders defenseman Matt Donovan sent off for interference.
Third Period, 0:00, Islanders 3-2: The final frame is under way here at the Garden, and the Islanders have made a goalie change to start the period.
Anders Nilsson is now in net, as Rick DiPietro leaves after stopping 20 of 22 shots he faced in 40 minutes. Tim Thomas remains in goal for Boston.
End Second Period, Islanders 3-2: The Bruins dominated most of the second period, holding New York to one shot through more than 17 minutes and scoring twice to tie it.
But the Islanders answered back late to retake the lead and head into the third up 3-2 despite being outshot 22-10 so far.
Second Period, 17:59, Islanders 3-2: And the Islanders don't need many shots to strike, with Trevor Frischmon scoring on New York's second shot of the period to give the Isles back the lead.
The Islanders now have three goals on just eight shots on Tim Thomas.
Second Period, 17:10, 2-2: With less than three minutes left in the second, the Bruins have outshot New York 10-1 so far in this period, and hold a 21-7 edge in that category overall.
Second Period, 14:40, 2-2: The Islanders use their timeout here. Always a chess match these exhibition showdowns.
Second Period, 12:38, 2-2: The Bruins kill off that penalty, then survive a scare in front just after McKelvie got out of the box as it remains tied with the sides back at even strength.
Second Period, 10:38, 2-2: The Islanders have a chance to regain some momentum as Bruins rookie defenseman Zach McKelvie is sent to the box for interference to give New York a power play.
Second Period, 9:21, 2-2: The Bruins pull even as Patrice Bergeron strikes to make it 2-2.
Brad Marchand set up the play with a rush down the left wing. He took the puck around behind the net and dished it out to Bergeron for a one-timer in the right slot. Chara picked up the second assist.
Second Period, 8:17, Islanders 2-1: The Bruins finally strike on the man advantage, converting for the first time on four tries in this game and eight tries in the preseason as David Krejci gets Boston on the board.
Milan Lucic had the initial shot at the right post and Krejci shoveled in the rebound with a backhander in front. Rich Peverley picked up the second assist on the play.
Second Period, 7:37, Islanders 2-0: The Bruins get another power-play opportunity as New York defenseman Ty Wishart is sent to the box for cross-checking.
Second Period, 6:07, Islanders 2-0: The first sign of any rough stuff on the night as Zach McKelvie and Isles tough guy Michael Haley get involved in a shoving match after the whistle. That draws a crowd, but no penalties come from the skirmish.
Second Period, 3:20, Islanders 2-0: Bergeron with a strong shift, first stealing the puck from DiPietro behind the net, then intercepting a pass in the slot, but the Bruins can't cash in on the chances those turnovers created.
Second Period, 1:40, Islanders 2-0: Nothing doing on that power play either for the Bruins, as the Isles are back at full strength with their two-goal lead still intact.
Second Period, 0:00, Islanders 2-0: The middle frame is under way at the Garden, with the Bruins starting the period with 1:40 left on their third power play.
The Bruins have an 11-6 edge in shots, including seven on the power play, but still trail by a pair.
End First Period, Islanders 2-0: Not the opening 20 minutes the Bruins and the Garden faithful had hoped for.
The Islanders struck for two goals, both by Dylan Reese, to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Bruins will be on the power play to start the second, as P.A. Parenteau was called for hooking at 19:39 of the first.
First Period, 18:18, Islanders 2-0: The Islanders strike again, and once again it's on a blast by Dylan Reese from the right circle.
This time he beats Thomas from the bottom of the circle to double the lead. Justin DiBenedetto picks up the assist.
First Period, 16:55, Islanders 1-0: Better movement and a few quality chances for the Bruins on that power play, but the result was the same as they have now started the preseason 0 for 6 on the man advantage.
First Period, 14:55, Islanders 1-0: The Bruins will get another shot on the man advantage as the hitting continues here at the Garden, with the Islanders delivering the bulk of the shots.
Trevor Frischmon's shot on Lane MacDermid wasn't quite legal though, as he upended the Bruins rookie at the blue line for an interference minor.
First Period, 10:18, Islanders 1-0: The Bruins once again can't convert a power-play chance, as the sides return to even strength.
The Bruins had Bergeron, Marchand and Peverley up front and Chara and Seidenberg on the points on the first unit, followed by Lucic, Krejci and Knight with Bartkowski and Kampfer at the points.
First Period, 8:18, Islanders 1-0: The Bruins get their first power-play chance of the night with Justin DiBenedetto sent off for holding. The Bruins were 0 for 4 with the man advantage against Ottawa on Wednesday.
First Period, 8:05, Islanders 1-0: Plenty of hitting early in this one, with Chara and Seidenberg throwing their weight around in the opening minutes and the Isles answering in the last few shifts.
Trevor Frischmon landed a big hit on Jared Knight and former Bruin Steve Staios roughing up Daniel Paille deep in the New York zone.
First Period, 4:37, Islanders 1-0: The Bruins successfully kill that penalty off, and Boston actually had the best scoring chance with a shorthanded bid by Brad Marchand, but it remains 1-0 as the sides return to even strength.
First Period, 2:37, Islanders 1-0: The Islanders will now have a power-play chance, as Dennis Seidenberg is sent to the box for holding the stick.
First Period, 1:07, Islanders 1-0: The Islanders strike early as Dylan Reese blasts a shot by Thomas from the top of the right circle.
Jeremy Colliton picks up the assist as New York grabs the early lead.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: And this one is under way here at the Garden, with the Krejci line and Bartkowski and Boychuk getting the start for the Bruins.
7 p.m.: The Bruins with a nice video montage honoring the NHLers lost during this tragic summer – Wade Belak, Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and the players, coaches and staff of the Yaroslavl team in the KHL.
That was followed by a happier video celebrating Boston's run to the Cup this spring.
6:45 p.m.: Rookie Jared Knight will get a chance to show his skills in this one, as he will play on the Bruins' top line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic.
Rich Peverley gets the first chance to fill Mark Recchi's old spot on the second line alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, with Zach Hamill flanked by Jamie Arniel and Daniel Paille and Alexander Khokhlachev between Lane MacDermid and Benoit Pouliot on the other lines.
The defense pairs have Zdeno Chara with Steven Kampfer, Matt Bartkowski with Johnny Boychuk and Zach McKelvie skating with Dennis Seidenberg.
6:30 p.m.: The Bruins and Islanders have taken the ice for warm-ups here at the Garden.
As expected, Tim Thomas led the Bruins onto the ice. He'll be opposed in the New York net by Winthrop, Mass. native Rick DiPietro.
DiPietro is one of three Bay Staters in the lineup for the Isles in this one. he's joined by Jay Pandolfo (Burlington), who is in camp on a tryout, and Mike Mottau (Avon).
6 p.m.: The Bruins will take the ice in just about an hour, hosting the Islanders in their first game at the Garden since the Stanley Cup Final.
Bruins coach Claude Julien confirmed after the morning skate that Tim Thomas will get the start in goal and is expected to play the entire game.
Zdeno Chara is also set to play his first game this preseason as Boston will have plenty of veterans from their Cup run in the lineup.
8 a.m. ET: The Bruins return to Garden ice for their preseason home opener on Friday, playing hosts in a game as reigning Stanley Cup champions for the first time in 39 years.
The New York Islanders will provide the opposition as the Bruins look to bounce back from Wednesday's 2-1 overtime loss in Ottawa in their first exhibition game of the season.
The Bruins will have a few more familiar faces on hand for this contest. Captain Zdeno Chara is scheduled to play after staying home for Wednesday's game to get a little extra rest for his bruised left leg. He was hurt in practice on Monday but did return to the ice on Wednesday morning.
Conn Smythe winner Tim Thomas will also be dressed for this one after Tuukka Rask played Wednesday. Rask turned in a strong effort with 34 saves, but two-time Vezina winner Thomas is expected to get his chance to shine in front of the home folks in this one.
Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, Milan Lucic and Dennis Seidenberg are among the other stars of last spring's Stanley Cup run scheduled to play in this one, while the Garden faithful will also get their first look at newcomer Benoit Pouliot and prospects Jared Knight, Alexander Khokhlachev and Lane MacDermid, who scored Boston's lone goal on Wednesday.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here for updates on all the action from the Garden.
