BOSTON – The Islanders came within one win of the NHL’s best team last week. They didn’t score another goal this week.
They can take solace in overtime, but the Islanders won’t be heading west after Friday night’s win over the Devils after the Bruins beat them 4-3 at TD Garden on Tuesday night. they get after the shooting.
The Islanders (17-12-1) weren’t overwhelmed by Boston’s speed, but their power play wore them down. Not only did they not get much offense going on four-and-five, but they gave up a shorthanded goal on Derek Forbort’s wrist shot at 18:28 of the second. It helped turn a game that was evenly balanced for most of the night.
Casey Cizikas tied the game for the Islanders at three with a layup off Forbort’s skate and 4:40 left in the third. But the Isles’ lapses, momentary or otherwise, proved too much all night and it was no different here, but Cizikas’ goal earned them a point.
The Bruins opened the scoring with a 19-second spurt, both goals coming from Jake DeBrusk. DeBrusk on the power play after Zach Parise was initially called for goaltender interference DeBrusk deflected David Pastrnak’s shot past Semyon Varlamov at 6:48 in the first. Then, at 7:07, he rushed for his second score, prompting Lane Lambert to use his timeout.
He must have said something, because the islanders quickly got under them. Josh Bailey cut the lead in half with a goal at 11:00 of the first, deflecting a Noah Dobson shot to make it 2-1. Dobson tied the game at two with a rocket at 11:43 of the second.
When AJ Greer was called for a foul at 16:39 of the second, it seemed like all the power was with the Islanders. But that was over after Forbort’s goal two minutes later.
The Islanders are still missing two top-nine starters in Kyle Palmieri and Anthony Beauvillier, and Cal Clutterbuck skated Tuesday with second lineman Hudson Fasching in the fourth. This stretch of the schedule, while grueling, makes going through the water an acceptable outcome, and it’s very difficult to beat the losing Islanders in a building where no road team has won in regulation this season.
They acquitted themselves in this game against a much better record, but it’s hard to take that as a consolation given the tight standings and the Islanders having won just two of their last six.
A 19-second stretch in the first half is a key moment of concentration that could change the game. So is the abbreviated goal. The Isles need every point as the Rangers and Penguins bounce back from slow starts and return to the playoffs.
Of that mix, it’s the Islanders who need the most help right now.
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