Bruins Prevail in Overtime for Third Straight Win
Bergeron pots winner on power play to lift Boston to 3-2 victory over Islanders
by Eric Russo @erusso22 / BostonBruins.com
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - When 60 minutes isn't enough to settle things, the Bruins have all too often been on the wrong end of the stick thus far this season. But on Saturday night at Barclays Center Boston bucked that trend when Patrice Bergeron ripped home a wrister from the slot on the power play just 1:33 into extra time to lift the Black & Gold to a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders.
Bergeron's marker - his 19th of the year - gave the Bruins their third straight victory and just their third non-regulation win in 14 tries this season.
"It was nice," said Bergeron. "It's been a while. You obviously work really hard to get those extra points, so it was needed. It's been a while, like I said, so we'll take it and move on."
Video: BOS@NYI: Bergeron rips game-winning goal in overtime
The Bruins went to the man advantage after Brad Marchand drew a trip 40 seconds into overtime on just the third penalty of the game. The play began with a stellar rush from Torey Krug - playing in his 500th NHL contest - as the blue liner lugged the puck from deep in Boston's end through neutral ice and into the Islanders zone before finding Bergeron in the slot.
It was there that Bergeron quickly opened up and fired a wrist shot by the blocker of Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov to secure the victory.
"It was an amazing play by Torey," said Bergeron. "I was reading that there were two guys going at him so I figured that if I would stay in that pocket and the puck would come, I'd have a little bit of time and I did. Great play by him."
The tally also gave the Bruins a power-play goal in 13 consecutive games, which is a new franchise record.
"Especially 4-on-3, we feel very confident with our group on the power play," said Marchand. "When you get a 4-on-3 - you just played a whole game - we feel pretty good about the situation we're in. We did a good job capitalizing."
Given the Bruins struggles in extra time (now 3-11), coupled with the Islanders' success (10-4), pulling out a victory had the Black & Gold feeling that some momentum might be back on their side.
"We hadn't had much luck in [overtime]," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "Good for us. They've got a great overtime record and shootout. Us not so much. Maybe this will be the beginning of balancing the scales with that part."
Video: Bergy talks big OT winner over Islanders
Rask Stands Tall
The Bruins did not arrive on time for their tilt with the Islanders, as they were outshot, 14-5, during the first period. Fortunately for Boston, Tuukka Rask was there to bail them out. The netminder made 13 stops in the opening period and finished the night with 35 saves, earning him second star honors for the evening.
Rask also made a stellar pad stop on Anthony Beauvillier's breakaway attempt in the second period and a strong post-to-post denial of Mathew Barzal's one-timer earlier in the third.
"If not for Tuukka in those first 20, you wonder where we'd be," said John Moore. "You don't want to stick with that recipe, you want to learn from it and improve. Bruce always talks about building a 60-minute game and that's where our focus is."
Video: BOS@NYI: Rask makes save on Beauvillier
McAvoy Steps Up
With the Bruins down a defenseman for the majority of the night following Matt Grzelcyk's exit with a lower-body injury early in the first period, more was required from the rest of the defense corps in his absence. Charlie McAvoy certainly did more than his fair share.
The blue liner played a game-high 28:43 and blocked a game-high four shots, while also delivering five hits and picking up an assist on Jake DeBrusk's first-period goal. McAvoy also made a stellar play with his stick in the second period to break up an Islanders 2-on-1.
"All right…I've felt better," McAvoy said of the four blocks. "I think it was a tight game. You take pride and you don't want to leave 2 points on the line. It felt like a good game and we were in it. You've kind of got to step up and do whatever it takes to win. A lot of guys stepped up and we won an overtime game."
Following the game, Cassidy said that Grzelcyk left after taking a slash in the back of the leg on his second shift. The defenseman was expected to undergo X-rays.
"I have no other update other than obviously he didn't return and hopefully it's negative and just one of those ones that stung and be better tomorrow," said Cassidy.
Video: McAvoy talks after Bruins big win over the Islanders
Moore Blasts One Home
Moore gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead with a low slapper from the point at 5:48 of the third period. It was the blue liner's second goal of the season.
"I had a little bit of space, had a lane," said Moore. "They did a really good job of fronting shots so I just wound up and tried to hit it as hard as I could and it found itself into the back of the net."