Rapid Reaction: Islanders Play Their Game, Beat Bruins 4-1 To Snap Skid

ELMONT–The New York Islanders defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 to snap their three-game skid. The Islanders move to 18-20-6 on the season, 10-10-3 on home ice.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Boston Bruins scored their first goal of the contest as Taylor Hall beat New York Islanders netminder short-side with under three minutes to play n the first period. His 11th of the season was assisted by Craig Smith and Mike Reilly.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s power-play goal at 11:30 of the second period tied the contest at one. Mathew Barzal fed Noah Dobson at the point for a one-timer and Boston Bruins netminder Linus Ullmark could not hold onto the shot and Pageau cleaned up the rebound. Pageau’s seventh of the season was assisted by Dobson and Barzal.

Noah Dobson gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead with 14:10 to go in the third period. After strong forechecking by the Islanders second line, Brock Nelson got the puck to Dobson at the point. His wrist shot hit off the post, off Linus Ullmark, and into the net for his eighth of the season.

Mathew Barzal gave the Islanders a 3-1 lead as he buried a rebound for his 12th of the season. Kieffer Bellows’s shot produced the rebound at 13:32 of the third. Bellows and Adam Pelech were credited with the assists.

Brock Nelson scored on the empty net to make it a 4-1 game with 1:13 to go in the third period.

Trotz Hits Milestone With Islanders

On Thursday, New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz coached his 250th game for New York.

He sits third in franchise history in games coached, trailing Jack Capuano (483 games) and the legendary Al Arbour (1500 games).

Trotz holds a regular-season record of 133-87-30, with a playoff record of 28-21.

Sorokin Rebounds From Weak Goal

A major storyline for New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin this season has been the weaker goals, the lack of judgment on certain shots at critical times.

After playing rather strong in the first period, he allowed a soft goal with under three minutes to play in the first period as Taylor Hall beat him short side.

Give it a shot 🤷‍♂️ @hallsy09 | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/PyrOxBZ44L

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 18, 2022

After the Islanders were able to tie the score at one, Ilya Sorokin made a huge save on Taylor Hall following a rebound chance.

A response goal by the Bruins there would have been rather costly for the Islanders, especially with how they have struggled to contain momentum.

Although the Islanders did not score another goal before the second period came to a close, they dominated possession.

In the third period, Sorokin came up large on the penalty kill and stopped all seven shots he faced.

He ended the night having stopped 26 of 27 shots in an impressive performance.

Team Effort on Display

Following the 6-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, New York Islanders captain Anders Lee spoke on the fact that the Islanders needed to play better individually and for one another.

Against the Boston Bruins, there seemed to be much more commitment from the New York Islanders.

A handful of times, forwards were backchecking and making plays in the defensive zone and the neutral zone.

The Islanders got production from the power play, the defense, and the top line in what was a dominating final two periods. Add Nelson and the second line to that as well with the empty-net goal.

The Islanders have said that they believe in this group and games like this show that this group has the talent to compete.

QUOTES: Barzal, Nelson, Bellows, Dobson, & Trotz

“It was a playoff game for us tonight. We knew time was huge. After dropping one in Buffalo and we’re out in the standings. Obviously, we know who we’re chasing. So that was a big win for us and felt like we for the most part. We played championship-caliber hockey and just played smart.” –Mathew Barzal

“Just stay on it. I thought first and second period we raised our level…the kill got us some energy, Barzy got a big goal.”–Brock Nelson on the message after the second period

“Just getting back in the lineup, just wanted to keep it simple. But you know, I thought the boys were really supportive of me and just, you know, helped me out there. So I felt good about my game, but you know, just all around. I thought everyone played well in the second and third. That’s why we came out with a good win.”–Kieffer Bellows

“So my goal, I just saw I had some time up there, just tried to find a shot lane and throw it on net and was fortunate to get a bounce off the posts and get one in.”–Noah Dobson

“Soroky you know, the first goal he probably wants back but he made some big saves, key saves when it was was still 1-1. He made a real key save in the second period and I think that you know, we just got confidence from that. And he’s such a good goaltender. We’re fortunate we have two good goaltenders and you know, we responded.”–Barry Trotz

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