The New York Islanders saw their three-game winning streak snapped after a 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins Saturday afternoon at Nassau Coliseum.
The Islanders were tied at two with the Bruins through 40 minutes, but Boston’s big guns pulled ahead with four goals in the third period. The loss mathematically eliminated the Islanders from the 2012 playoffs.
“They exposed us in the third,” Jack Capuano said. “I thought the last few games we played pretty well. The power play could have been the difference tonight with the score tied and we didn’t generate too many chances there.”
David Krecji opened the scoring at 18:11 of the first period, quickly snapping a Milan Lucic pass by Al Montoya. Just as the announcement of the goal ended, Kyle Okposo tied the score with his 21st goal of the season past Marty Turco. The red-hot Okposo now has scored in five straight games.
The back and forth play continued in the second, and after two the score was tied at 2. Chris Kelly put the Bruins ahead with a high wrist shot from low in the slot. The Islanders big line responded after being held pointless for two games, as PA Parenteau finished a backdoor play from John Tavares and Matt Moulson.
“As a line, we’ve been a little colder lately,” Parenteau said. “I don’t think we’ve played bad hockey. We just have to keep doing what we are doing and we’ll be fine.”
Boston controlled the play early in the third, as Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin each scored their 27th goals of the season. Marchand lit the lamp at 3:13 and Seguin at 10:37. Parenteau cut the deficit to one goal before Boston iced with two goals by Patrice Bergeron and Krejci in 24 seconds.
“The score finished 6-3, but it was really a 4-3 hockey game with about three minutes left,” Matt Martin said. “We just gave up a couple late ones. Obviously we want a better outcome, but we stuck in there the whole time and played hard. Tomorrow if we come out the same way, I think we’ll be okay.”
After throwing six hits, Matt Martin set a new league record for hits in a season with 360. He broke Cal Clutterbuck's record of 356, set in 2008-2009.
“I think to lead the league in any category is pretty special,” Martin said. “At the same time, it’s second nature. I’m going to play physical and I’m going to play the same way my whole career.”
The Islanders play another matinee Sunday afternoon as they wrap up their season series with the Ottawa Senators at 3 p.m.
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