Boston 2, Islanders 1
BOSTON - The Islanders power play couldn’t get the job done and the Boston Bruins took the first game of the home-and-home series 2-1, Friday afternoon at TD Banknorth Garden.

Down 1-0 early in the third period, the Islanders received a 1:40 two-man advantage, but took hardly any shots. Then, with just over two minutes remaining in the third period and the Islanders trailing 2-1, they earned another power play on Bryan Berard’s end-to-end rush. But the power play failed to generate much offense as time expired.

"Our power play wasn’t clicking and we have to go back to the drawing board,” said Ted Nolan. “We were stationary out there and the confidence isn’t there. We’re holding onto the puck too long and it’s making it easy to defend against it. When things are struggling you squeeze the stick too tight.”

Tim Thomas picked up his eighth win of the season, stopping 25 shots. Rick DiPietro was solid in goal for the Islanders, but earned the loss, making 23 saves.

Glen Murray scored a power play goal and Glen Metropolit scored the game-winner mid-way through the third period to raise Boston’ record to 11-7-2. The Islanders drop to 11-8-0 and have lost two straight.

With 2:37 left in the second period, Murray gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead off of a nice feed from Marco Sturm with Boston on the power play.

Boston took a 2-0 lead on Metropolit’s slapshot at 12:41 of the third period.

The Islanders cut the lead to 2-1 on Mike Sillinger’s re-direction off Bruno Gervais’ pass less than three minutes later.

With time winding down, the Islanders put some pressure on Thomas, but could not get another one past him.

The Islanders and Bruins go right back at it tomorrow evening at 7 pm at the Nassau Coliseum.


Check out the Islanders TV game day tab for complete coverage of today's game.





GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY
There are still tickets to available to watch the Islanders and Bruins go head-to-head for the second time in two days.

To purchase individual game tickets, click here or visit the Coliseum box office, the Islanders Team Store at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville or call Ticketmaster at 631.888.9000.

We'll see you on Saturday at the Coliseum.



4-TICKET VALUE PACK FOR SATURDAY
For only $128 receive 4 tickets, 2 Nathan's value meal vouchers and $25 gift certificate to Saturday's Islanders-Bruins matchup

The Islanders are proud to announce the Value Pack for Saturday's contest against Boston. For only $128, fans receive four tickets, 2 Nathan's Value meal vouchers and a $25 gift certificate to Boulder Creek.

Come watch one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference battle it out against the Boston, who is also making a name for itself this season. The Islanders have used the enthusiasm of the crowd this season to go an impressive 7-2-0 at the Nassau Coliseum.

This is a great opportunity to spend Saturday evening at the Coliseum with the whole family for Thanksgiving.

Get your Islanders Value Pack by calling 1.800.882.ISLES ext. 2:
•    4 tickets
•    2 Nathan's value meal vouchers*
•    $25 Gift Certificate to Boulder Creek
$240 VALUE
FOR ONLY $128

*Valid at Nathan's Restaurants only. Excludes Nassau Coliseum.
**offer valid only for 11/24 game, while supplies last


Five Stars of the Game:

1. Tim Thomas: Lost the shutout bid late in the third period
2. Marco Sturm: A nifty pass on the Bruins power play goal
3. Mike Sillinger: A goal, +1, 68% on draws
4. Glen Metropolit: Game-winner
5. Andy Hilbert: Hit the post and played hard, +1

Stat of the Game: Mike Sillinger has four goals and two assists in his past five games against Boston.

Slapshots: It was the first regulation win by the Bruins over the Islanders in their past 13 meetings…The Islanders are 1-for-23 on the power play over the past six games…Captain Bill Guerin was born in nearby Worcester, MA, while Rick DiPietro grew up in Winthrop, MA.


ISLANDERS
Goaltenders
39 Rick DiPietro   
34 Wade Dubielewicz
 

Defensemen
32 Brendan Witt - 24 Radek Martinek   
14 Chris Campoli - 8 Bruno Gervais     
25 Andy Sutton - 4 Bryan Berard

Forwards        
26 Ruslan Fedotenko - 89 Mike Comrie - 13 Bill Guerin
11 Andy Hilbert - 18 Mike Sillinger - 7   Trent Hunter
20 Sean Bergenheim - 63 Josef Vasicek - 81 Miroslav Satan
12 Chris Simon - 10 Richard Park - 28 Tim Jackman


BOSTON
Goaltenders
30 Tim Thomas
40 Tuukka Rask

Defensemen         
33 Zdeno Chara - 44 Aaron Ward
41 Andrew Alberts – 6 Dennis Wideman
38 Bobby Allen - 45 Mark Stuart


Forwards
 11 P.J. Axelsson – 91 Marc Savard -  27 Glen Murray
72 Peter Schaefer – 10 81 Phil Kessel - Brandon Bochenski
16 Marco Sturm - 13 Glen Metropolit  - 12 Chuck Kobasew
17 Milan Lucic - 56 Petteri Nokelainen - 53 Jeremy Reich