Pro Sports

Barzal, Dobson lead Islanders to 4-1 victory against Bruins

Posted February 18, 2022 6:00 am

By SCOTT CHARLES

New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) celebrates after he scored on Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Feb. 17, 2022, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Noah Dobson and Mathew Barzal each scored and had an assist, helping the New York Islanders snap a three-game skid with a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves, Jean-Gabriel Pageau also scored, and the Islanders kicked off a two-game homestand with a victory after a disappointing four-game road trip (1-3-0). Brock Nelson also added an empty-net goal and an assist.

'œIt was playoff game for us,'ť Barzal said. 'œWe knew tonight was huge after dropping one in Buffalo and where we are at in the standings. Obviously, we know who we are chasing. That was a big win for us and felt for the most part we played championship-caliber hockey. '¦

"We really think that we can pull it together and string some wins together and make a push.'ť

Taylor Hall scored the Bruins' lone goal and Linus Ullmark made 25 saves, but Boston fell for the fourth time in five games (1-3-1).

Dobson notched the go-ahead goal when his wrist shot from the point banked off the post, then Ullmark's leg and into the back of the net at 5:50 of the third period. Anthony Beauvillier and two Bruins defenders were stationed at the top of the crease and prevented Ullmark from tracking the puck. Nelson registered an assist on the play.

'œThat's the way we need to play in those tight games,'ť Dobson said. 'œWe've got to find a way to get a big goal, then lock it down when we need to. It was a good effort in the third, for sure.'ť

Barzal extended the Islanders' lead to 3-1 by burying a rebound at 13:32 of the third period. Kieffer Bellows fired a hard and low wrist shot to force a scramble in front that Barzal was able to take advantage of as he registered his 12th goal.

The goal followed an impressive Islanders penalty kill after Cal Clutterbuck took an ill-advised offensive zone penalty that could have shifted momentum in the Bruins' favor.

'œThey did all the things they typically do when they are on,'ť Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of the Islanders. "We did have a chance on the power play - it let us down tonight. It would have been a timely goal for us, but it didn't happen.'ť

Boston captain Patrice Bergeron returned to the lineup after missing three games with a head injury.

Pageau notched his seventh of the season to even the score at one 11:30 into the middle frame. While on the power play, Barzal drew the attention of the Bruins defense and left a drop pass for Dobson, who blasted a slap shot on net. Pageau alertly found and buried the loose puck.

Following the equalizer, Sorokin made back-to-back saves on Brandon Carlo and Hall to keep the game tied at 1.

Hall opened the scoring with a sharp-angled wrist shot at 17:26 of the first period. The veteran forward flew past Casey Cizikas and squeezed the puck through a small opening on the short side to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Craig Smith and Mike Reilly assisted.

'œI don't care what their record is, they are such a hard team to play against,'ť Hall said of the Islanders. 'œWhen they are on, when they have four lines going like they did tonight, it's a tough matchup.'ť

Nelson capped the scoring with 1:13 left.

'œWe had some firmness on our forecheck,'ť Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. 'œWe didn't give them easy exits, we had good gaps. We forced them to earn every inch on the ice, that's a good Islanders game from us.'ť

INJURIES

Islanders forward Josh Bailey missed the game and is considered day to day with an upper-body injury.

MOVING ON UP

Zdeno Chara skated in his 1,649th career game and is two from surpassing Chris Chelios on the NHL's list for defensemen.

TOP OF THEIR CLASS

The Bruins have 11 first-round draft picks on the current roster: Hall, Charlie Coyle, Jake DeBrusk, Nick Foligno, Derek Forbert, Trent Frederic, Taylor Hall, Curtis Lazar, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Urho Vaakanainen, and Jakub Zboril.

BENCH BOSS

Trotz was behind the bench for his 250th game with the Islanders. He became the third coach in franchise history to reach that milestone, joining Jack Capuano (483) and Al Arbour (1,500).

UP NEXT

Bruins: Visit the Ottawa Senators Saturday night, concluding a four-game road trip.

Islanders: Host the Montreal Canadiens and interim coach Martin St. Louis on Sunday.

More AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (8) is pursued by Boston Bruins center Trent Frederic (11) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Feb. 17, 2022, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin). The Associated Press

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) turns away a shot by Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Feb. 17, 2022, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin). The Associated Press

New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz watches during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Thursday Feb. 17, 2022, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin). The Associated Press

Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall (71) celebrates his goal with defensemen Mike Reilly (6) and Brandon Carlo during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Feb. 17, 2022, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin). The Associated Press

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin gives up a goal to Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Feb. 17, 2022, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin). The Associated Press

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin squirts water onto his face during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Thursday Feb. 17, 2022, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) The Associated Press

New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) scores on Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Feb. 17, 2022, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers Hockey NHL Pro Sports Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.