Final: Bruins 3, Islanders 1

The Boston Bruins have won eight of their last 10 games after defeating the New York Islanders 3-1 Saturday night at TD Garden. It was a solid defensive effort by both teams, but the Bruins needed goals from Brad Marchand, Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen (empty net) in the win.

Tuukka Rask finished with 30 saves for his fourth straight victory.



Forward Patrice Bergeron took a maintenance day Friday, but he's in the lineup tonight. Bergeron has been taking more off days this season, which is something he hasn't done much of in the past. Noel Acciari, who also did not practice on Friday, is not playing tonight. Frank Vatrano is playing with Tim Schaller and Sean Kuraly.

Observations from the third period

• Danton Heinen added the empty-netter.


• Islanders are making it interesting with a goal with 3:08 remaining in regulation.


• David Backes given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for head butting.


• Anders Bjork has picked up his game.


• Jake DeBrusk just had his NHL coming-of-age moment. Scores to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead after serving a 10-minute misconduct.


•  Brad Marchand out of the box. Let's see if Islanders take a run at him.


•  Marchand gets five minutes for interference on John Tavares. In real time I had no issue with the hit.

• Say hello to my little friend. Rask snares one with his glove.


• Such an underrated play but Bergeron has the ability to get an O-zone faceoff when needed.


• After jumping into the play, Torey Krug with a relentless backcheck that resulted in him controlling the puck in transition.


• TV timeout thought: "Hey Griswold. Where do you think you're gonna put a tree that big?"


• When Boston's top line is going well, its so much fun to watch.


•  Brad Marchand with a power-play goal to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. A goal is a goal but Jaroslav Halak should've made that stop. It's Marchand's 11th of the season.


•  TV timeout thought: "Grace!"


•  While the first period was a solid defensive game at both ends, this game is going to get interesting.


• DeBrusk standing up for Charlie McAvoy, who was leveled into the boards by the Islanders' Casey Cizikas. DeBrusk's definitely not his dad, Lou, but Jake held his own. But he's given a two-minute instigator, five for fighting and a 10-minute major.


• McAvoy protects the puck so well along the boards, even when he's on the receiving end of a big hit.

• I know Bruins want Bjork to develop into a pro at this level, but wouldn't mind seeing him spend some time in Providence. But then the issue is who would replace him in the lineup.


• TV timeout thought: "Oh, Eddie. . . If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now."


• Bergeron's stride is sneaky explosive.


• Islanders get the first power play of the game.


• David Krejci is back after getting a puck in the face.


• TV timeout thought: "Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together."


•  Tough shift for Bjork. Hasn't turned on his hockey sense button yet.


• Matt Grzelcyk is playing with a ton of confidence the last two games.


• Krejci goes to the room immediately after getting puck to the face.


• TV timeout thought: Cheech & Chong's "Santa Claus and His Old Lady" is a classic.


• Dennis Seidenberg was a good dude to cover.


• Expect a good game from Vatrano.


• Strong start for the Bruins.


• David Pastrnak has four goals and four assists for six points in the last seven games. The Bruins are 5-2-0 during Pastrnak’s current point streak.