BSJ Game Report: Bruins 4, Islanders 1 - 'No passengers' in complete win over New York

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 4-1 win over the Islanders in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

HEADLINES

After losing their first five games against the Islanders, something had to give, right?

Despite rolling out a severely undermanned D corps once again, Boston opened its matchup against the Islanders on Thursday with haymaker after haymaker in the first period — setting the tone in what was ultimately a convincing 4-1 victory over New York at TD Garden.

Brad Marchand scored twice and Craig Smith buried another power-play goal for Boston — while Taylor Hall scored his first goal as a Bruin to give Boston some breathing room in the third period. Tuukka Rask made his return after missing 17 of the last 18 games due to injury, with the B's netminder stopping 22 of the 23 shots that came his way en route to his 300th career victory.

The Bruins picked a good time to put together their most dominant period of the season — outshooting the Isles, 23-7 and attempting an absurd 33 shots against Semyon Varlamov in what was ultimately a two-tally frame for the home club. It took a video review to confirm it, but Marchand was credited with his 20th goal of the season after he deflected a Mike Reilly point shot home just 1:49 into the contest. Boston padded its lead later in the period on the power play, with Smith extending his point streak to six straight games with his snipe from the slot off of a feed from David Krejci

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1382844041415524361

As expected, the Isles answered back in the middle frame, with Travis Zajac scoring the lone goal of the frame at 2:56 — but if it wasn't for the play of Varlamov in net, things could have been very ugly — with Boston holding a commanding 11-0 edge in high-danger scoring chances through the first two periods.

Finally, Boston got the insurance it needed in the third, with Hall breaking in the O-zone, shielding the puck from Adam Pelech and snapping it past Varlamov for his first goal since March 4. Marchand added an empty-netter for his second goal of the night — with Boston closing things out with a 32-12 advantage in scoring chances during 5v5 play.

Given the circumstances (with Boston soldiering without Matt Grzelcyk, Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller against a top contender in the East Division) you couldn't ask for a better win for the B's tonight.

SIX UP

Brad Marchand: He had a costly turnover that led to the Islanders' lone tally of the night, but Marchand still absolved for the miscue by scoring his 20th and 21st goals of the season down the other end of the ice. Marchand joined Johnny Bucyk (10), Rick Middleton (9) and Phil Esposito (8) as just the fourth Bruin to post at least eight consecutive 20-goal seasons with the Original Six franchise.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1382834773597519883

Taylor Hall: Hall finally got off the schneid in his second game as a Bruin — firing a puck past Varlamov in the third period to break the game open for Boston and get on the scoreboard with his new club. Even without his tally, Hall managed to take a big step forward on Thursday and build off his debut — with the winger regularly extending O-zone possessions by beating Islanders skaters to the puck and shielding it away from New York sticks. Just two games in — but he's already making a very noticeable impact on that second line.

Tuukka Rask: There might have been some extended stretches where Rask was twiddling his thumbs down the other end of the ice while the Bruins were peppering Varlamov, but Rask made the saves he needed to — especially when New York pushed during the second and third periods of action.

https://twitter.com/PR_NHL/status/1382879177850896387

Craig Smith: Smith continues his scoring hot streak, with his power-play goal in the first period standing as his 16th point in his last 14 games. He's locked in right now, to say the least.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1382842268135124992

Coyle Line: They weren't rewarded on the scoreboard, but Boston's third line was a force for most of the evening — holding a 10-3 edge in scoring chances during their 8:31 of 5v5 ice time. Once they start cashing in on their chances, look out.

Mike Reilly: Boston's D corps remains shorthanded, but Mike Reilly has looked very, very good since making his debut with his new club on Tuesday. The puck-moving defenseman logged 23:12 of ice time on Thursday (second behind only Charlie McAvoy), landing three shots on goal and attempting five in total — with one leading to Marchand's goal in the first period. So far, so good for a deadline pickup that should really inject some energy into a banged-up blue line.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1382854824430034952

ONE DOWN

Power play? I guess you could lump the power play for only cashing in once on five chances tonight? But man, it's kind of stretching it when it comes to finding faults in this team's performance tonight. Just a complete win.

PLAY OF THE GAME

That had to feel good for Taylor Hall.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1382864152117514242

PARTING THOUGHTS

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1382849375089606656

QUOTE OF THE DAY

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1382875033329143809

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will be right back at it on Friday night with a rematch against the Isles at TD Garden. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.