BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Thanks in part to a Patrice Bergeron hat trick the Boston Bruins extended their point streak to 15 games with a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders Thursday night at Barclays Center. Boston is 11-0-4 in its last 15 games.
Bergeron notched goals Nos. 17, 18 and 19 for his third career hat trick and second of the season. Ryan Spooner and Brad Marchand (empty-netter) also scored for Boston.
Boston defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 Wednesday night at TD Garden as the Bruins increase their record to 6-1-1 in the first game of those back-to-back sets. They are 3-3-2 in the second game this season.
Pregame notes
Masked men: Anton Khudobin will start for the Bruins tonight. Overall, he's 9-2-4 with a 2.40 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage in 16 games this season. He's 2-4-0 with a 2.67 GAA and a .909 SP in seven career starts against the Islanders. Jaroslav Halak gets the nod for the Islanders. Overall, he's 13-13-2 with a 3.22 GAA and a .906 SP in 29 games this season. He's 8-8-0 with a 2.29 GAA and a .928 SP in 16 career games against the Bruins.
Unusual stat: Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron did not register a shot against the Canadiens on Wednesday. It was his first time without a shot since Oct. 22, 2016, which is a span of 114 games.
Timely return: Islanders forward Josh Bailey, who has missed the last four games due to an injury, returns to the lineup tonight. He has 12 goals and 38 assists for 50 points in 42 games this season.
- John Tavares scores to cut the Islanders deficit to two goals with 5:36 remaining in regulation. It's his 25th of the season.
- Bergeron scores on a delayed penalty for his third goal of the game and his third career hat trick. Fans here a little late throwing hats on the ice. It's his 19th of the season.
- Zdeno Chara blocks a pair of shots on the PK and he's in a bit of discomfort.
- The Islanders will begin the third period on the power play as Brandon Carlo gets a tripping penalty in the closing seconds of the second.
- Huge left-pad save by Khudobin on Scott Mayfield's blast form the point in the waning minutes.
- Torey Krug's blast from the point gets through and Bergeron notches his second of the game to give the Bruins a 3-1 lead.
- That's the first penalty of the game and the Bruins will go on the power play.
- Krug has three shots on net but it seems like more.
- And there it is right off the faceoff as Ryan Spooner pitchfork it in to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead. He has four goals in the last five games.
- Too many perimeter shots for the Bruins this period. Gotta get dirty.
- Good play by Tim Schaller to get an offensive-zone faceoff.
- I've come to appreciate Spooner's talent. More importantly, his commitment.
- In the first, the Bruins played like a team that had a game last night. Boston improved as the period progressed, so let's see how the second goes.
- If Matt Grzelcyk can develop Torey Krug's shot -- heads up.
- After not registering a shot against the Habs on Wednesday, Bergeron scores on his first shot against the Islanders to tie the game at 1-1. It's his 17th of the season.
- Zdeno Chara gets the respect call every time he dumps the puck in from just beyond the red line. If that's a rookie, it would be icing.
- Charlie McAvoy outmuscles John Tarvares to stifle a possible scoring chance.
- Bad turnover by Carlo and the Islanders have a 1-0 lead. Carlo had a similar turnover here the last game these teams played. Isles' Jordan Eberle with his 15th of the season. Rookie Matt Barzal with the assist and now has 48 points in 47 games.
- Krug with a few good plays at both ends of the ice.
- If you're a hockey fan, you have to appreciate the way Adam McQuaid plays the game.
- Solid consistent breakouts for the Bruins in the early going.
- Bergeron's line starts