Recap: Bruins 5, Islanders 2

The Islanders got a key piece of their lineup on Thursday, but Josh Bailey's return wasn't enough to cool off the NHL's hottest team, as the Isles fell to the Boston Bruins 5-2.
Patrice Bergeron scored a hat trick as the Bruins improved to 11-0-4 in their last 15 games, sending the Islanders to their second straight regulation loss. The loss was also the Islanders third in three meetings against Boston this season, as the Bruins remained unbeaten at Barclays Center.

The Islanders started off well enough, taking the lead on Jordan Eberle's 15th goal of the season, as well as playing physical and limiting the Bruins to seven shots in the opening frame.
Time and space were as scarce as parking in Brooklyn, but the Bruins were able to capitalize on their limited opportunities through two periods. Bergeron's first of the night - off a two-on-one with Brad Marchand - negated the Isles first-period advantage and a pair of quick strikes in the second period turned a 1-1 draw into a 3-1 deficit for the Isles.
"We didn't capitalize on our chances," Eberle said. "I like the way we came out and started the game, there was a lot of energy and pace and it seemed like when they got their second one we kind of just sat back and we didn't really respond."

A pair of bad bounces broke open 1-1 draw, as a bouncing puck off a draw was whacked in by Ryan Spooner at 9:47. Four minutes later a Torey Krug point shot caromed off Adam Pelech's knee and landed in Bergeron's lap as he netted his second of the night on the power play.
"You're in one, it's tough," Head Coach Doug Weight said. "We managed the game well, they got a break on the second goal and obviously the power-play goal slapped us in the face and we got away from our game and got frustrated in the third."
Bergeron completed the hat trick in the third period, spinning and shooting through a crowd, beating Jaroslav Halak (29 saves) with a shot along the ice. After that the Islanders were forced to open up and got away from their defensive focus, getting outshot 16-5 in the final frame.
"They always seem to be in a really good position," Bailey said. "Their team plays a pretty structured game in general. They really clog up the middle of the ice and it's tough to penetrate at times."

Bailey picked up an assist in his return to the Islanders lineup after missing four games with an upper-body injury. The all-star set up John Tavares' 25th of the season late in the third to make it 4-2, but Marchand's empty-netter with 1:01 left rounded out the scoresheet.
"I felt good. I wasn't out too long fortunately and any time you're out a little bit you're trying to get back as quick as you can," Bailey said. "Really you just want to have a good first period and make some plays and get back in the swing of things and after the you're not really thinking about anything other than playing."

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders play their next three games on the road, beginning on Saturday night in Chicago.

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