FINAL: Islanders 5, Bruins 1 - Bruins outplayed all game, were down 3-0 after one

Another embarrassing showing tonight as the Bruins fall to the Islanders 5-1 on Long Island Saturday night. Pavel Zacha left the game after getting crushed into the end boards and did not return with what the Bruins are calling a lower-body injury. Jim Montgomery told reporters after the game that he doesn't have any definite update on if it will be day-to-day or week-to-week. Boston came out flat as they found themselves down 3-0 at the first intermission. Kyle Palmieri recorded a natural hat trick as he scored all three New York goals in the first. That was Palmieri's first hat trick since October 30th, 2019. 

The only bright spot for the Bruins tonight was Marc McLaughlin scoring his first goal of the season after getting called up from Providence on an emergency basis.

 This loss does not look good considering that the schedule gets even tougher this week as they have Toronto on the road and then welcome in a really good Edmonton team to TD Garden. Boston finishes the week with Toronto again on Thursday and then Pittsburgh on Saturday. These next few games will be very telling as the trade deadline is on Friday and Boston is caught in a situation of knowing that they are in a transition year and don't have the players to compete for a long playoff run. Despite the historical start they had this season, I am not surprised on their downfall lately considering that they are a much younger team and lack the toughness needed to be a great team. I will say that I do not believe that Jim Montgomery is on the hot seat because they are still locked into a playoff spot, it is only his second year and considering the amount of youth they have on the roster along with the injuries they have had, it doesn't make much sense to make a change right now. 

Anders Lee and Brock Nelson added to the score for the Islanders. The Bruins will be back in action on Monday night when they will continue their road trip north of the border in Toronto to face the Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Bruins came out flat and made no adjustments the entire game. 
• McLaughlin's goal was the only bright spot for Boston tonight.
• I don't expect Montgomery to be let go anytime soon because I don't believe bringing in a new voice will make a drastic change with how the roster is built right now. 
• This is a very telling game as the trade deadline approaches. 

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

3. Ilya Sorokin (22 saves) 

2. Anders Lee (One goal and an assist) 

1. Kyle Palmieri (Three goals and an assist)

_____________________________-

WHO: Bruins (35-12-14) at Islanders (25-20-14)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 
WHERE: UBS Arena. Elmont, NY.
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub
LIVE BOX SCORE

ROSTERS

PROJECTED LINES

BRUINS

Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk – Pavel Zacha – Jake DeBrusk
Danton Heinen – Morgan Geekie – Trent Frederic
Jakub Lauko – Jesper Boqvist – Marc McLaughlin

Parker Wotherspoon – Charlie McAvoy
Mason Lohrei – Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort – Kevin Shattenkirk

Linus Ullmark

ISLANDERS

Last game:

Lee-Horvat-Barzal
Engvall-Nelson-Palmieri
Holmstrom-Pageau-Wahlstrom
Martin-MacLean-Clutterbuck

Romanov-Dobson
Pelech-Pulock
Reilly-Mayfield

Varlamov
Sorokin

PREGAME NOTES

• The team recalled forward Marc McLaughlin from Providence on an emergency basis.
• First time the Bruins are facing Islanders bench boss Patrick Roy, their old Montreal nemesis. "The most competitive teammate I've every been around," Jim Montgomery told reporters.
• Marc McLaughlin and Derek Forbort are in for Justin Brazeau and Matt Grzelcyk tonight. Brazeau and Grzelcyk are dealing with “general soreness,” Montgomery told reporters. Both should be back for the Leafs game on Monday.