BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The Boston Bruins once again received contributions throughout the lineup en route to a 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night at Barclays Center. The Bruins are 10-1-2 in their last 13 games and have earned points in nine straight with a 7-0-2 record.
Danton Heinen, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Tim Schaller and Noel Acciari (empty net) all scored for the Bruins, while Tuukka Rask finished with 25 saves. He's 11-0-1 in his last 12 starts. The lone goal the Bruins allowed was the first even-strength goal against Bergeron's line this season.
Everything else you need to know from the Bruins' win in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis.
HEADLINES
Three Amigos: Before Patrice Bergeron scored the would-be game-winning goal at 8:28 of the second period, it was Boston’s third line of Danton Heinen, Riley Nash and David Backes that produced the team’s first goal. Boston had an offensive-zone faceoff to the right of Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak when Nash won the drop clean right back to Heinen, who quickly unleashed a wrister for a 1-0 lead at 8:17 of the first.
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Big assist: David Pastrnak’s goal drought extends to 10 games but he was dynamic against the Islanders. With the Bruins holding a 2-1 lead, he stole the puck in the neutral zone, chipped the puck to open ice and created a 2-on-1 with Brad Marchand, who received a nifty pass and finished with his 16th goal of the season at 9:04 of the third period.
“Great play,” said Bruce Cassidy when asked about Pastrnak’s pass. “He has that ability to freeze guys. That pass he makes across, it’s a toe-dragish move and it looks like he’s going to shoot. He had some good looks. He had some chances. I was very pleased that he made that play. It was the right time to make it and it was a big goal for us.”
It was Pastrnak's 20th assist of the season and he now has 35 points in 38 games.
The beat goes on: Only a few hours before puck drop, the NHL announced Tuukka Rask as the first star for the month of December. He finished with 25 saves against the Islanders and he’s 11-0-1 in his last 12 starts.
TURNING POINT
Cherry picking: It’s easy to pick the game-winning goal as the turning point, and I usually don’t do this because there are so many other crucial plays that affect the outcome of a game. However, Bergeron’s goal was a heads-up play and showcased his hand-eye coordination. The puck was in the air behind the Islanders net, when he grabbed it with his hand, put it on the ice and quickly got a shot off that ricocheted off Halak’s skate and into the net. It was the break the Bruins needed and they opened the game up after that goal.
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“I saw the rebound going that way, so as soon as it was in the air, I saw the goalie wasn’t necessarily in position and ready for it, so I was trying to put the puck down on the ice as quickly as possible and get it on net and hope for the best,” explained Bergeron. “It worked out.”
The goal proved to be the game-winner and it was Bergeron’s 12th of the season.
THREE UP
Danton Heinen: He’s been one of the most consistent players for the Bruins this season. He contributed a goal and assist against the Islanders, and now has four goals and nine assists for 13 points in the last 10 games.
Sean Kuraly: Not only was he solid on the penalty kill, as he usually is, the high-flying forward was good all-around. If he can add a scoring touch to his repertoire, he would be a dangerous player. He also drew a holding penalty at 5:54 of the third period by keeping his legs moving through the neutral zone.
Fourth line: The trio of Tim Schaller, Kuraly and Noel Acciari was buzzing all night, especially in the second and third periods. That line created a sustained forecheck and kept the Islanders stuck in their zone for nearly a minute in the second. It also had a couple of shots during that shift. It was a perfect shift because it ended with an offensive-zone faceoff and allowed Boston’s top line to come on and create its own scoring chances. In the third, Schaller and Acciari (empty-netter) contributed a goal each.
“Kuraly’s line was heavy down low and forced their D to defend us and take pucks from us and it takes a toll on a team after awhile and we saw that going into the third,” Cassidy said. “Good for them, and the other lines too, but you saw more out of that line. I was happy for them to get two goals late and get rewarded.”
THREE DOWN
Brandon Carlo: With Boston holding a 1-0 lead and the faceoff to the right of Rask, Bergeron won the drop clean back to Carlo, who received the puck on his forehand and began to turn to his right to skate behind the net. Unfortunately for the Bruins, Carlo didn’t take the puck with him, which allowed the Islanders’ Jordan Eberle to easily gain control. He went backhand, forehand, backhand, forehand before beating Rask to tie the game at 1-1 at 9:30 of the first period. It was the first even-strength goal the Bergeron line has allowed this season. Carlo was then called for tripping at 18:09, but the Bruins were able to kill it off.
Free puck? @jeberle_7's on it. #BOSvsNYI pic.twitter.com/pNaXW1cYJf
— NHL (@NHL) January 3, 2018