Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, center, of Finland, is helped off the ice by teammates Greg Zanon, left, and Joe Corvo (14) as New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov, right, of Russia, skates by in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Boston, Saturday, March 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Quick summary
In the first period, Milan Lucic scored his 22nd goal of the season, a power-play goal to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. A little more than two minutes later, Josh Bailey tied the game for the Islanders.
In the second period, Tuukka Rask attempted to make a save and fell back onto the ice in pain, favoring his left leg. It looked like he may have pulled something. Rask left the game and Tim Thomas came in. Islanders Matt Moulson would later score on a power-play making it 2-1 Islanders.
In the third period, Tyler Seguin scored his 22nd goal of the season, receiving a nice pass off the boards from Zdeno Chara and he used his speed to get by the Islanders defense and put a backhander past Evgeni Nabokov. Later, on a Bruins icing that wasn't called, the Islanders got the puck and went up the ice and scored, John Tavares putting it by Tim Thomas. That would be the eventual game winner. The Bruins pulled Thomas near the end but couldn't get one past Nabokov.
Game notes
The Bruins led the game in shots 34-25 and faceoff wins 40-33. The Islanders led the game in hits 22-19 and blocked shots 13-5.
The Bruins went 1-for-5 on the power-play while the Islanders went 1-for-3.
Tuukka Rask made 11 saves on 12 shots in 29:01 of playing time. Tim Thomas made 11 saves on 13 shots in 29:40 of playing time. Thomas got the loss and is now 27-14-0 with a 2.24 GAA and a .928 save percentage this season. Rask is 11-8-3 with a 2.05 GAA and a .929 save percentage this season.
Greg Zanon was in the lineup and Mike Mottau was scratched.
Patrice Bergeron had another good game in the faceoff circle going 17-9.
Tyler Seguin and Milan Lucic each had 5 shots apiece to lead the Bruins.
With the emergence of the Lucic-Krejci-Seguin line that has really played well since forming, the Marchand-Bergeron-Rolston line hasn't done much. Rolston doesn't seem like he fits on that line but who else do you put there? Can Rich Peverley come back any sooner please?
Gregory Campbell led the Bruins with 2 blocked shots.
Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk led the Bruins with 4 hits apiece.
Onto the next one
Tuukka Rask and Andrew Ference will not be making the 2-game road trip, against the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs. Daniel Paille was shaken up in the third period and appeared to be hurt. After the game it was announced that the Bruins have recalled goalie Michael Hutchinson and forward Lane MacDermid from Providence (AHL) on an emergency basis. Hutchinson most likely won't see any action unless something happens to Tim Thomas. MacDermid may get a chance to play against the tough New York Rangers tomorrow, if Paille is questionable. MacDermid is 6'3" 205lbs and hasn't yet played a game in the NHL. This season in the AHL he has played in 57 games and recorded 4 goals, 10 assists and 106 PIMs.
The Bruins are now 38-22-3 with 79 points. The Bruins next game is tomorrow at the New York Rangers at 12:30pm ET. The game is on NBC.
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