Tonight was a big moment for the Bruins (16-8-5) and Boston sports as they welcomed back fans (12% capacity) at the TD Garden for the first time in over a year. Naturally, this being the B's they treated them to a gut-wrenching loss as they built an early 2-0 lead only to blow it and eventually lose 4-3 in overtime to the Islanders (22-8-4) on left wing Anthony Beauvillier's easy tap-in goal. Yes, even with some fans cheering for them in the stands, the Bruins still can't figure out how to beat the Isles, they are 0-3-2 against them this season with three regular season meetings left to go.
After a week off because of a Covid-19 outbreak on the team, the Bruins returned to the ice with center Sean Kuraly and left wing Jake DeBrusk remaining on the NHL's Covid list. They couldn't have dreamed of a better first period as they scored twice with both goals coming from the unlikeliest of players. Right wing Karson Kuhlman fired the puck on net from almost against the side wall and it worked as Isles goaltender Semyon Varlamov (29 saves, 14-6-3) couldn't find it through a bunch of traffic. Kuhlman's first goal of the season was assisted by defenseman Charlie McAvoy and left wing Anders Bjork at 11:42. Boston doubled their lead as defenseman Steven Kampfer blasted in a one-timer for a power play goal at 17:35. McAvoy and center David Krejci provided the helpers on Kampfer's first goal of the season.
Playing in his first game since March 7, Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (6 saves) lasted for one whole frame before we suspect that his back injury that took him out of action earlier flared up again. Boston only termed it an "upper-body injury" which is always so helpful in figuring out what's actually going on. New York took advantage of Rask being out and backup goaltender Jaroslav Halak (17 saves, 7-4-3) being pressed into duty on short notice. Bruins killer Jean-Gabriel Pageau got his team on the board at 7:21 of the second period by finishing a pretty passing play with defenseman Scott Mayfield and right wing Leo Komarov who I believe currently lives on waivers every single day. That was the 11th goal of the season for the Islanders center and former Senator.
Boston led 2-1 going into the third period but that didn't last for too long as right wing Josh Bailey skated down the slot and fired a shot past Halak at 4:33 to tie it at two. Nelson and defenseman Nick Leddy had the assists on Bailey's fifth goal of the season. Things looked grim for the Black and Gold when Maine native and BC's Oliver Wahlstrom flipped in a backhander at 17:04 for the 3-2 advantage. Pageau and Beauvillier got the assists on the rookie right wing's ninth goal of the season. 54 seconds after that, it was tied again as Bjork knocked in a pretty pass from center Charlie Coyle. Right wing Chris Wagner had the other assist on Bjork's second goal of the season.
Overtime only took a grand total of 21 seconds (I hope that you didn't get up to get a drink or food before it started) and the B's never really touched the puck as the Isles won the opening face-off, skated behind their own net then blew past the retreating Bruins. Leddy's initial shot was stopped by Halak but he left the puck right on the goal-line where Beauvillier used his speed to get to it first and knock in the juicy rebound. Leddy and Pageau notched the assists on Beauvillier's fifth goal of the season.
Boston missed its rematch with Buffalo last Saturday but never fear since they face the awful Sabres (losers of their last 16 games!) on Saturday afternoon (1, NESN) at the Garden. You can't make up all the stuff that has happened to Buffalo this season but tonight's latest chapter in their misery was the new head coach Don Granato and his assistant Matt Ellis were both ruled out from tonight's game against Pittsburgh due to Covid so the GM Kevyn Adams was in the strange position of being the head coach for a night. Eventually, Buffalo is going to win another game (maybe?) this season and you desperately don't want to be on the wrong end of that NHL equivalent of a solar eclipse. Nothing less than two points against the Sabres is ever acceptable at this juncture.
UPDATE 3/26/21: Rask is out for at least both games this weekend.
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