So today could have gone better for the Boston Bruins. Not only did they lost to one of the NHL's bottom feeders-the New York Islanders-at home, but even worse goaltender Tuukka Rask might be out for a while after leaving early in the second period with a "lower body injury."
The B's (38-22-3) fell 3-2 to the Islanders (27-29-9) this afternoon at TD Garden and Rask didn't make the trip with Boston to New York for tomorrow's game against the Rangers after landing awkwardly when he tried to make a save. Plus, he won't be with them in Toronto either.
As a further kick in the balls, John Tavares (26th of the season) scored a shady goal for the game-winner at 15:21 in the third period. The play appeared to be dead when the Islanders seemingly touched the puck for an icing call on the Bruins. Boston's players stopped for a second but there was no whistle. Tavares was able to get an advantage but truthfully, his tip-in (from Matt Moulson and Andrew MacDonald) still should have been stopped by Tim Thomas (11 saves).
Daniel Paille also went down with what looked like a shoulder injury in the third period and he didn't return either. After the loss, the Bruins recalled goaltender Michael Hutchinson and forward Lane MacDermid from the Providence Bruins.
Boston hasn't won two straight since January 10 & 12 and now they've dropped five of eight. Every time they picked up a good win in the last month and a half, they follow it up with a poor effort like this. It's easy to blame injuries (Nathan Horton, Rich Peverley) but it's more than that. At least Johnny Boychuk returned today from his minor concussion so he's ok.
Milan Lucic (22nd of the season) gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 15:10 in the first period from Brian Rolston (facing his former employer) and Joe Corvo.
Josh Bailey (10th of the season) tied it at one a little over two minutes later. Boston's defense was caught watching the puck and he was able to slip through them and wrist a pass from Frans Nielsen. David Ullstrom had the other assist.
Moulson (28th of the season) inched closer to his third straight 30-goal season when he scored at 15:35 in the second on a snap shot. It was a power-play goal with Nielsen and Tavares notching assists.
Tyler Seguin (22nd of the season) electrified the usual quiet Saturday afternoon Garden crowd with a sick backhander past Evgeni Nabokov (32 saves) at 7:29 in the third. It was all thanks to a sweet indirect pass off the boards from Zdeno Chara that sprung Seguin. David Krejci had the second assist.
The Bruins lead the season series over the Islanders 2-1, it'll wrap up March 31 in Long Island.
Boston hits the road for two: at New York tomorrow afternoon and Tuesday night in Toronto. The Rangers and Bruins are the top two teams in the Eastern Conference but New York won the first two meetings, both in Boston, including the most recent contest 3-0 on Valentine's Day. Banged up or not and playing back-to-back afternoon games, the B's need to prove they can beat the Rangers. Otherwise, they'll go into the playoffs with a psychological disadvantage.
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