Riding a 5 game win streak and with points in 10 straight games, the Bruins rolled into the Naseau Coliseum looking to avenge their only regulation loss of the year. Fast forward 60 minutes and the Bruins slink out of town to lick their wounds and clean the puke off their skates. Oh and just for good measure, Zboril couldn’t finish the game with what was termed as the dreaded “upper body injury”.
John Moore made his season debut and logged an impressive 23:45 of ice time (second only to McAvoy’s 25:49). I’m not going to get on Moore for any lapses in play considering this was his first game play since The Bubble back in August. It looked as if his transition game was there and he had a few plays along the offensive blue line that stood out. Also a quick stick tap for Brandon Carlo, who has established himself as a steadying force on the back end. Paired with Grzelcyk, Clifton or tonight Moore; Cassidy seems to have confidence in the big guy.
It didn’t start out all bad, as the Bruins opened the scoring at the midway point of the first with an Erection Line goal. Pastrnak with the cycle to Bergeron down low who found Marchand cutting to the net with a perfect backhand pass. Marchand with the wrister to go bar down 1-0. The play was set up by the Krecji line keeping the 4th line of NY hemmed in their own end for almost 2 minutes. The Erection Line was able to change onto the ice while the B’s kept possession in the NY zone. Nice play all around.
The Islanders carried the play through most of the game but especially in the first 2 periods, as Pageau tied the game roughly 3 minutes after Marchand’s goal. After some strong wall work by the Islanders kept the puck in the B’s end, Pageau crashed the net to put one past Rask. With less than 5 minutes in the first, Eberle beat Rask with a half slapper that I know Rask would’ve liked back. Even during the intermission interview Pageau admitted that he was just looking to hit Rask’s pad and got lucky. Weak-sauce back check from DeBrusk who floated along behind Eberle. Well Jake, at least you got a good view of the goal. Rask was big at the end of the period as the Islanders smelled blood and put on their best pressure of the night. Zboril coughed up the puck behind the net and NY had 3-4 quality scoring chances but Rask kept the lead to 1 going into the intermission. Late in the second, The Erection Line was able to get it up again as Bergy scored to tie the game at 2. Pasta with the chip shot found Marchy in the neutral zone, and with Carlo driving the net, Marchand found Bergy in the high slot where he went blocker side. All scoring came from this line, which (as we’ve discussed before) is not a long term solution.
The wheels came off in the 3rd period as the Bruins had trouble with the Islander 2 man forecheck and when they finally did get out of their own zone, they were gassed coming into the NY end. Barzal got the game winner in the 3rd where he snuck in from the circle to go back door. How do you not keep track of Mathew Barzal? I mean it’s not like this is the 2015 draft where you passed him over 3 times in a row! You’d think maybe you would remember him by now. https://www.hockey-reference.com/draft/NHL_2015_entry.html The Bruins had a chance to get back into the game on the PP with about 7 minutes left. But goddam Ritchie collides with Krecji at the top of the umbrella and it’s off to the races for the Islanders since the Bruins don’t have a defenseman out there. 4-2 Islanders. That’s it, fuck Ritchie, I’ve changed my mind, I can’t stand him.
The Bruins are supposed to host the Devils on Thursday, but they’ve already had one game against NJ postponed due to COVID protocols. Hopefully getting back home and a few practices will get things going back in the right direction.
Plus/Minus
Plus:
- Erection Line: Bergy 1g1a – Marchy 1g1a – Pasta 2a
- Outside of the Eberle goal, Rask was sharp and on his angles
- Bjork bumped up to the Krecji line. Now maybe put Frederic on the 3rd and LFG!
Minus:
- Unable to adjust to the 2 man forecheck
- Lost every footrace and loose puck
- No emotion, played a passive game
Game Notes:
- I watched the Islanders feed and they had Butch Goring as the color commentator. Goring played for the Bruins briefly back in the 80’s and also had a few seasons as the Bruins head coach. Good to see that he’s still involved with the game. He actually was a player coach for the Islanders for a few seasons too.
- 11 years ago, NY Islanders Oliver Wahlstrom, then a Maine Junior Pirate scored a lacrosse goal at the TD Garden. I remember watching it at the time. Filthy mitts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak9GRpTc85I
- Side note: Not Kathryn Tappen’s greatest moment with her comment to Mike Millbury “do you think he practices that?”
The Morning Skate 