Anthony Beauvillier scored the decisive goal in a third period with five goals, and the Islanders defeated the first-placed Bruins 7-2 on Thursday night at the Nassau Coliseum.
Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist, and Adam Pelech, Jordan Eberle, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Anders Lee and Oliver Wahlstrom also scored goals to help the islanders take their second straight win and improve to 6-0-1 at home. Semyon Varlamov stopped 34 shots.
The islanders, who scored the season’s highest score, beat Boston for the third time in three encounters – three of the Bruins’ four regular losses that season – one point behind Boston and Washington in the east.
« We understand how tough our division is from top to bottom, » said Lee. « Boston has done a phenomenal job and got off to a good start. We’re following them. Anytime you can fill the gap a bit, it’s always a good night. »
Nick Ritchie and Craig Smith scored a goal for Boston, who lost for the third time in four games. Jaroslav Halak had 30 saves in his first game against the islanders since leaving after the 2017/18 season.
Beauvillier put the islanders in the lead at 5:41 a.m. of the third. Halak stopped Beauvillier’s first shot, then pushed forward and took the puck away from Trent Frederic and passed it back to Halak.
« The draw in the third half against arguably the best team in the league is a good test for us » said Barzal. « I thought we got to the top today. »
Eberle made it 4-2 with 9:15 minutes, took a pass from Barzal and went to his forehand to bring Halak down before he went lifted the puck into the net.
Pageau scored 7:36 on a shorthanded breakaway to give the Islanders a three-goal lead. Lee made it 6-2 with 5:16 for his ninth and Wahlstrom got his second 3:27 to go.
« It’s a big win because we want to stay in the pack, » said the islanders’ coach, Barry defiance. « It’s just a big mess of teams that are very equal in terms of talent and overall standings. » It will be a fight to the end. «
Halak, who allowed the five goals in 18 shots in the third, hadn’t given up a goal in the third period in six starts this season.
» Hopefully tonight was a one-off, « said Ritchie. » We just fell apart and somehow stopped playing and that’s exactly what happens in this league. « There are a lot of good teams. »
Varlamov saved a backhand attempt by Jake DeBrusk, 7:21 behind to maintain the 2-1 lead of the islanders.
Smith, however, connected it with 8:24 a second. On a Bruins onslaught, Smith sent the puck from the outside edge of the left circle to the net while teammate Jack Studnicka headed for the goal, but he was distracted by Matt Martin from the islanders in the air and past Varlamov.
The Islanders took the lead 15:10 in the opening phase without a penalty, but were leading 2-1 after 20 minutes.
Ritchie brought the Bruins into play 1:02 and steered a pass from rookie defender Jakub Zboril for the seventh time this season past Varlamov.
Pelech tied it at 3:16 and rebounded the puck from the left for his first.
Barzal brought the islanders with 7:21 in the first half in a duel Defender Nick Leddy in the lead for the seventh time. Barzal had been kept without a point in the last four games after a career height of nine points. Leddy received his sixth assist in eight games, and Varlamov had his eighth career support in that game.
© 2021 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved
Terms of Use
Data protection
Your ad choices
Sitemap
Your California Privacy Rights
Don’t sell my personal information
Ref: https://nypost.com
