The New York Islanders dominated the Boston Bruins en route to a 7-2 win at the Nassau Coliseum.

A five-goal period where Anthony Beauvillier, Jordan Eberle, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Anders Lee and Oliver Wahlstrom all scored to create an Islanders blowout win. They hadn’t scored five goals in a period in over two years.

Semyon Varlamov got it done at the other end, saving 35 of 37 shots. The Islanders are now 3-0 against the Bruins this year, and responsible for three of the team’s four regulation losses.

The shots were close, and the Bruins didn’t let the Islanders get too many dangerous chances. That changed in the third, where the Bruins defense folded. It’s very rare for the generally defensive Islanders to score seven goals, so you know something is wrong when you allow that.

With the win, the Islanders move up to third place in the MassMutual East Division with 23 points. Above them are the Capitals and Bruins, who are tied at 24. The Islanders win really helped the Capitals, because it was needed tie the Bruins for that spot.

Cal Clutterbuck, who left the game with an injury after the first period, still has not been given a status.

“Honestly, I’m not too concerned,” said head coach Barry Trotz when asked if Clutterbuck will be sidelined long-term.

1st Period

Catching the Islanders off guard on their very first change, the Bruins took over as Nick Ritchie tapped-in a goal 1:02 into the game. Down 1-0 early, the fourth line got to work. Matt Martin fed Adam Pelech who fired a shot passed Jaroslav Halak.

“Jaro” as most Islander fans know him as, was playing his first game since leaving the Islanders in 2018. So, the Islanders and Bruins tied 1-1 after trading early goals. With 7:21 remaining in the second period, Mat Barzal decided that he doesn’t like tie games.

Barzal went coast-to-coast and ripped the puck over Halak’s shoulder. The Bruins lead play after Barzal’s goal, but Semyon Varlamov and the Islanders defense kept the lead intact.

2nd Period

When the second period began, the Islanders were a soldier down. Cal Clutterbuck left the game because of an injury. After each team killed a penalty, Craig Smith and Jack Studnicka broke loose on a two-on-one.

Smith intended a pass for Studnicka, but it hit Matt Martin’s stick and deflected into the top-left corner of the net. It was an uncontrollable and unfortunate break, but gave the Bruins the tie. The period ended quietly at 2-2.

3rd Period

Six minutes into the period, Anthony Beauvillier stick-lifted Trent Frederic in front of the net and scored the go-ahead goal. A few minutes later after some good Islanders defense, Mat Barzal had Jordan Eberle on an odd-man rush. Barzal fed Eberle, who faked a pass back and scroed.

“I just had to make a move and throw it over his shoulder,” Eberle said.

Soon after the goal, Casey Cizikas took a delay of game penalty after lifting puck over the glass. A penalty kill without Cizikas and Clutterbuck against a top power play in the league seems impossible. Not only did they  kill the penalty, but Jean-Gabriel Pageau intercepted a pass, got a breakaway, and scored a shorthanded goal. Anders Lee and Oliver Wahlstrom burst open the flood gates adding to the lead. The lamp-lighting third period sprung the Islanders to a 7-2 victory.

Up Next

Now coming off two consecutive wins, the Islanders have a back to back series this weekend against the Penguins. Both games, Saturday and Sunday, are back at the Coliseum.

Ben Kule

Die-Hard Islanders fan and writer from Plainview, Long Island, NY. I have a passion and knowledge for this team and I enjoy sharing that with others