Notebook: Isles Earn Point in 3-2 OT Loss to Bruins

Patrice Bergeron scored the OT winner 1:33 into the extra frame, as the New York Islanders fell 3-2 to the Boston Bruins on Saturday night at Barclays Center.
It was a hard-fought point, but a sour result for the Isles, who fell on a four-on-three penalty kill in overtime. The overtime loss extended the Isles' point streak to three games (2-0-1), giving them three of a possible four points in two games against the Bruins this season.
BOXSCORE | TROTZ POSTGAME

"All in all it was a pretty good game. Obviously you'd like to come away with the two points, but when it gets to overtime, that's the way it goes sometimes," Josh Bailey said. "We end up getting a penalty, it's unfortunate."
Scott Mayfield and Mathew Barzal (1G, 1A) scored for the Isles, while Jake DeBrusk and John Moore scored in regulation for the Bruins. Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves for the Isles, while Tuukka Rask stopped 35 for the Bruins.

Video: NYI Recap: Barzal collects two points in OT loss

ISLES AND BRUINS PLAY "CHESS MATCH":

Saturday's Isles-Bruins game was just as close as the team's first meeting on Dec. 19 in Boston - a 3-2 shootout win for the Isles.
The Isles jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, as Mayfield beat Rask with a screened shot through traffic at 4:36, and outshot the Bruins 10-2 in the opening 10 minutes - and 14-5 in the first period - but couldn't extend their lead.
DeBrusk tied the score 1-1 midway through the second period, as his shot caromed off of Mayfield's skate before fluttering over a downed Varlamov.
"The chances were there, that's a heck of a hockey team over there," Barzal said. "Full lineup, two top teams going at it. That's kind of what we expected the game was going to be, kind of a chess match."

Structure gave way to odd-man rushes, as both the Isles and Bruins had a series of quality chances to break the deadlock. Anthony Beauvillier couldn't corral a bouncing puck on a would-be breakaway, while Barzal was slashed on a partial break late in the period. Brad Marchand couldn't settle a two-on-one feed from David Krejci, while Varlamov laid out for a highlight-reel save on a David Pastrnak wraparound.
Despite all the AAA chances, it was Moore's low, long-range point shot that made it 2-1 Boston at 5:48 of the third, but Barzal evened the score up at 9:33, redirecting a Josh Bailey feed past Rask.
In OT, Brock Nelson tripped Marchand to set up the red-hot Bruins power play, which scored for a 13th consecutive game.
With the loss, the Isles are winless in their last nine home games (0-8-1) against the Bruins.

MAYFIELD SETS CAREER-HIGH IN GOALS:

Scott Mayfield set a new career-high with his fifth goal of the season on Saturday night.
Mayfield threaded a point shot through traffic and past Tuukka Rask at 4:36 of the first period to give the Isles a 1-0 lead. Mayfield's 12 points this season are seven off his career-high (19), which he set last season.
"It's nice I guess. That's not what I'm worried about," Mayfield said. "It's more my play in the d zone. You look at some of the goals too, they're not anything to ride home about. It's nice to help in offensively. I think we need that a little bit from our defense. It's a good start.
Mayfield nearly had a second goal late in the middle frame, stepping out of the penalty box and into a breakaway before putting a backhander off the crossbar. The Isles defenseman also kicked off the play that led to Barzal's tying goal, as he flipped the puck out of the Islanders' zone to Bailey at the far blue line.
"Mayfield isn't an offensive guy, but he has pretty good instincts for getting pucks through and finding lanes and waiting for traffic to develop in front. That's part of an offensive defenseman, but we rely on him for him to be an defensive defenseman."

ISLES RETURN TO BARCLAYS CENTER:

Saturday marked the Isles first game at Barclays Center since Nov. 30.
With the OT loss, the Isles have recorded a point in all six games at Barclays Center this season (4-0-2) and are 9-0-2 in their last 11 contests in Brooklyn. With the OT loss, the Isles will have not lost a regulation game at Barclays Center in over a calendar year (Jan. 12, 2019).
Saturday also marked the Isles' 150th regular-season game all-time at Barclays Center. They are 82-48-20 all-time. The Isles play again at Barclays on Feb. 1, the start of four-straight games in Brooklyn.

CIZIKAS TAKES HARD SHOT IN OT:

Casey Cizikas was in visible pain after taking a Pastrnak shot off the groin.
"I think he'll be okay," Trotz said. "It hit him in a tough area. I would say a little ice and resting for tomorrow and hopefully he's ready to go."

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders take on the New York Rangers on Monday night at Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m., the first of three games in eight days between the crosstown rivals.