Today the Bruins took on the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum for the 176 meeting between the two teams. Marty Turco got the nod in net and Mottau the nod to suit up as both Dennis Seidenberg and Adam McQuaid sat out for today’s game. Marchand, Bergeron and Seguin started the game off, but the opening shot would come from Chris Kelly who would ring it off of the post. There was great tempo to start thegame, but it wouldn’t be until 18:11 that the Bruins would capitalize. Milan Lucic won a battle for a loose puck with Marty Reasoner by the Islanders net, fed it over in front to Krejci who banged it in for a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately the Bruins got caught celebrating as just 29 seconds later Kyle Okposo snappeda wrist shot over Turco’s glove hand from the high slot. Heading into the second period the shots were tied at 7 a piece.
To start the second period off Islanders Michael Haley had been looking for a fight all day and found a partner with Gregory Campbell for a scrappy go around, essentially getting the take down. As for momentum gain, there wasn’t much stemming off of this fight, but leave it to Chris Kelly to get the ball rolling once again as he intercepted a pass off the boards while flying into the offensive zone, beating Montoya high glove hand for his twentieth of the season. Kelly became the 6th Bruin this season to reach the 20 goal mark, putting Boston as the first team to have 6 players iwth 20+ goals. That is the definition of depth. While the Bruins are 17-0-0 when Kelly scores, PA Parenteau would cut the Bruisn lead once more as he got a back door pass from Tavares to tie the game at two. Going into the third period the Bruins would be shorthanded to start with David Krejci serving a lazy slashing call to finish out the second period.
Throughout the first twenty minutes of play the Bruins weren’t warranted a single power play, and needed to establish themselves more offensively. In order to do so they needed to come out strong in the third period, and that is just what they did. Off of the opening face-off Marchand was able to bring the puck into the offensive zone for an opportunity on Montoya right off the back, then Jordan Caron would go to ring one off the post. At 3:13 the efforts would pay off as Marchand beat Montoya between the pads, giving them their third lead of the game.
Throughout the opening minutes they did a good job slowing things down and setting the puck up, providing Marchand with his team leading, 27th goal. Tyler Seguin at 10:37 ties Marchand for the team-high 27 goals as he slapped one from the top left hand circle and went high glove on Montoya giving the Bruins their first two-goal lead, making up for his two giveaways and missed open net shot earlier on in the game. Seguin definitely accepted the challenge to step it up in third period, registering a goal and assist in the opening half of the period. 14:53 PA Parenteau would strike again from just thirteen feet out as he gets a wrist shot past a diving Turco, bringing the Isles within one. As if to be expected Tyler Seguin once again sets up a goal for Patrice Bergeron coming around the net, making a pass to Marchand, then rushing in to feed it to Bergeron, giving the Bruins a 5-3 lead with just 3:41 remaining. In just 24 seconds later David Krejci gets his career-high 23rd past Montoya off a nifty backhand feed from Lucic, sealing the fate of the Bruins as victory. This would be the first time the Bruins have posted six-goals against the Islanders this season as they close out the series with a 3-1 edge.
The next game is Sunday, April 1 at 7:00pm EST against the New York Rangers.
A Cup A Bruin 