Islanders Win Battle in Beantown

Islander celebrate one of three goals (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

          The Islanders got two much needed points, beating the Boston Bruins 3-2.   
          Isles goaltender Evgeni Nabokov was named the first star of the game, and he earned it.  He made thirty-two saves on thirty-four shots, none better than his last one.  With less than twenty seconds left, Bruins left winger Milan Lucic had a point blank shot at an empty net.  Nabokov stuck out his arm and the paddle of his stick saved the game for the Isles.  
          The first period saw a pair of goals, one for each team.  It started at the 15:10 mark when Lucic opened the scoring by burying a shot over the shoulder of Nabokov.  It was Lucic's twenty-second of the year.  Just two minutes later the Islanders would answer back.  Islanders' winger Josh Bailey would take a cross-ice feed from center Frans Nielsen, and bury it under the pads of Bruins goaltender, Tukka Rask.  The goal was Bailey's tenth of the year, and his fourth in his last three games. 
          The Bruins' Rask would not last long in the second period.  With eleven minutes left in the second period, Rask suffered an apparent leg injury, and was replaced by Tim Thomas.  It would only take the Islanders five minutes, after Thomas entered, to find the back of the net.  On the power play center John Tavares would find left winger Matt Moulson, who would bury one past the right pad of Thomas, to make it 2-1.  It was Moulson's team leading twenty-eighth goal.  
          The third period would see the Bruins bounce back and tie the game.  Off of a face off Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara passed one off the boards to center Tyler Seguin, which lead him on a breakaway.  Seguin would capitalize by burying a backhander over the blocker of Nabokov to tie it 2-2.  It was Seguin's twenty-second.  The Islanders third goal would be a result of a very confusing play.
          With five minutes left the Bruins believed they should have been called for icing, but the ref never made the call.  He seemed to believe that the Islanders never touched it before the Bruins, which negated the icing and allowed play to go on.
          With some of the Bruins standing around confused, Moulson would carry the puck up with Tavares on his side.  When Moulson skated into the Bruins zone he fired a slap shot that was tipped in by Tavares and gave the Islanders the 3-2 lead.  It was Tavares' twenty-sixth goal of the year.  Nabokov would hold off a late fury of shots in the last minute, and seal the win for the Isles. 
          The Islanders now have 63 points, which is seven points behind eighth place Winnipeg.  The Isles have seventeen games left to play, while Winnipeg has sixteen.  
          The Islanders now start a stretch of three straight games against the rival Devils.  Two will be played at the Coliseum, and one at the Prudential Center, in Newark.  
          The games start today on the Island.  Puck drop is scheduled for 3 PM.