Bruins down Islanders in playoff rematch.
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2025 5:33 pm
NY(AP) - Brandon Carlo and Mathieu Joseph each added a pair of assists and Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves as the Boston Bruins ended the New York Islanders winning streak at 9 games with a 3-1 victory on Long Island last night. The marquee matchup featured the two Eastern Conference finalists from last year's playoff in a highly anticipated game. The Third Rail Center was electric and and the crowd were hoping to see the Islanders extend their impressive undefeated streak. The first period was an intense affair as each team was trying to gauge the other. There wasn't much room on the ice as both teams opened with a close checking kind of game. The first period was a see saw battle until "The Breadman" Artemi Panarin opened the scoring by stealing the puck from Bruins defenseman John Carlson at his blueline and going in alone and beating Hellebuyck with a deke backhand move at 16:57. The crowd roared with approval and things looked good for the home team. The shots favored Boston 10-9 at the end of the period.
The second period saw the Bruins slow the game down with their close checking, smothering style of play. The high scoring Islanders knew they were going to have to fight through players to get a chance at expanding their lead. The Bruins were relentless with their heavy fore checking game and it eventually paid off when Joel Armia would finish a beautiful cycle play with a quick snapshot to beat Islander goalie Anthony Stolarz to even the game at 17:09 late in the middle session. The shots at the end of the second period were 8 apiece. Both teams wouldn't give an inch of ice.
The third period would see New York start quickly with Nick Suzuki and Auston Matthews getting glorious chances only to be thwarted by Bruins goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The early saves especially the last one off Matthews seem to wake up Boston as they slowly started to take over the game from that point. The fore check was wearing on the Islanders and seemed to frustrate them after being hemmed in their own zone for extended periods. Boston's persistence would prevail when Bruins forward Logan O'Connor would be rewarded for his hard work by backhanding a rebound for his first goal of the year at 15:18 of the third period. Mathieu Joseph and Brandon Carlo assisted on the goal and were prominent all night getting in the way of the ever dangerous Islander forwards. Boston would put the game away less than two minutes later when Brock Nelson's wrist shot would beat a screened Stolarz and give the Bruins a 3-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish. It was a satisfying victory for Boston as the head coach Don Cherry wanted to see how his team would come out after losing their previous game to Montreal who the Bruins will face tomorrow. Safe to say all the boxes were checked and now the team heads back home to rest up before facing the Canadiens.
The second period saw the Bruins slow the game down with their close checking, smothering style of play. The high scoring Islanders knew they were going to have to fight through players to get a chance at expanding their lead. The Bruins were relentless with their heavy fore checking game and it eventually paid off when Joel Armia would finish a beautiful cycle play with a quick snapshot to beat Islander goalie Anthony Stolarz to even the game at 17:09 late in the middle session. The shots at the end of the second period were 8 apiece. Both teams wouldn't give an inch of ice.
The third period would see New York start quickly with Nick Suzuki and Auston Matthews getting glorious chances only to be thwarted by Bruins goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The early saves especially the last one off Matthews seem to wake up Boston as they slowly started to take over the game from that point. The fore check was wearing on the Islanders and seemed to frustrate them after being hemmed in their own zone for extended periods. Boston's persistence would prevail when Bruins forward Logan O'Connor would be rewarded for his hard work by backhanding a rebound for his first goal of the year at 15:18 of the third period. Mathieu Joseph and Brandon Carlo assisted on the goal and were prominent all night getting in the way of the ever dangerous Islander forwards. Boston would put the game away less than two minutes later when Brock Nelson's wrist shot would beat a screened Stolarz and give the Bruins a 3-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish. It was a satisfying victory for Boston as the head coach Don Cherry wanted to see how his team would come out after losing their previous game to Montreal who the Bruins will face tomorrow. Safe to say all the boxes were checked and now the team heads back home to rest up before facing the Canadiens.
