The New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, moving onto the second round to face the Boston Bruins. The series of the 2015 draft debate, with the Bruins skipping over Matthew Barzal to pick Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk, and Zachary Senyshyn, was the forefront of this series. The Bruins had home ice advantage due to finishing third in the standings and the Islanders finishing fourth. The New York Islanders ended up defeating the Boston Bruins in six games and move on for a rematch of last years semi finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Game One Review: Bruins (5)-Islanders (2) (1-0 Bruins)
The Bruins hit the ice to an almost full TD Garden for game 1, I was in attendance in the upper balcony for my first NHL playoff game. The Bruins came out on top, with David Pastrnak scoring his 2nd career playoff hattrick and solid goaltending by Tuukka Rask, who stopped 20 of 22 shots.
| Goal Scorer | Assists |
| NYI: A. Beauvillier (4) | N. Dobson, J. Eberle |
| BOS: D. Pastrnak (3) | D. Krejci, P. Bergeron |
| BOS: D. Pastrnak (4) | P. Bergeron, B. Marchand |
| NYI: A. Pelech (1) | J. Eberle, L. Komarov |
| BOS: C. McAvoy (1) | D. Krejci |
| BOS: D. Pastrnak (5) | Unassisted |
| BOS: T. Hall (3) EN | D. Krejci, M. Reilly |
Game Two Review: Bruins (3)-Islanders (4) (OT) (1-1 tied)
Game two saw the Islanders win by a score of four to three in OT. Rask stopped 35 of 39 shots on goal, while the Bruins put 42 shots on net. The Islanders even the series at one game a piece.
| Goal Scorer | Assists |
| BOS: C. Coyle (2) | N. Ritchie, K. Kuhlman |
| NYI: J. Bailey (4) | K. Palmieri, B. Nelson |
| NYI: K. Palmieri (4) | N. Leddy, J. Pageau |
| NYI: . Pageau (2) | A. Beauvillier, M. Barzal |
| BOS: P. Bergeron (4) | B. Marchand, D. Pastrnak |
| BOS: B. Marchand (4) | C. McAvoy |
| NYI: C. Cizikas (1) (OT) | Unassisted |
Game Three Review: Bruins (2)– Islanders (1) (OT) (2-1 B’s)
Game three headed to Long Island where the Boston Bruins took a 2-1 series lead on a Brad Marchand OT wrist shot. Rask stopped 39 out of 41 shots on goal. The Bruins would lose defenceman Brandon Carlo to a head injury in the third period, causing another big blow to the B’s defence.
| Goal Scorer | Assists |
| BOS: C. Smith (2) | T. Hall, M. Grzelcyk |
| NYI: M. Barzal (1) | K. Palmieri, R. Pulock |
| BOS: B. Marchand (5) (OT) | C. McAvoy, P. Bergeron |
Game Four Review: Bruins (1)-Islanders (4) (2-2 tied)
Game four saw the Islanders win by a score of four to one. In the first period there were two fights within two minutes of each other. Matthew Barzal had a goal and an assist while the three Bruins drafted before him were held to zero points. Tuukka Rask stopped 25 of 29 shots on goal.
| Goal Scorer | Assists |
| BOS: D. Krejci (1) | B. Marchand, D. Pastrnak |
| NYI: K. Palmieri (5) | M. Barzal, J. Eberle |
| NYI: M. Barzal (2) | S. Mayfield, N. Dobson |
| NYI: C. Cizikas (2) | C. Clutterbuck |
| NYI: J. Pageau (3) | L. Komarov |
Game Five Review: Bruins (4) – Islanders (5) (3-2 Isles)
The Islanders took a 3-2 series lead with a win in game five. Officiating was all over the place, with missed calls on blatant high sticks and cross checks against the Islanders. Jake DeBrusk was a healthy scratch and Curtis Lazar was injured during the game. Rookie Jeremy Swayman started the third period after Rask was pulled for injury precaution. Swayman let in one goal on the three shots he faced in the third. The Bruins almost came back in the third to force OT, but fell one goal short.
| Goal Scorer | Assists |
| BOS: D. Pastrnak (6) | C. McAvoy, B. Marchand |
| NYI: M. Barzal (3) | N. Dobson, J. Eberle |
| NYI: K. Palmieri (6) | J. Bailey, N. Leddy |
| BOS: B. Marchand (6) | D. Pastrnak, C. McAvoy |
| NYI: J. Bailey (5) | J. Pageau, A. Beauvillier |
| NYI: J. Eberle (3) | M. Barzal, N. Dobson |
| NYI: B. Nelson (4) | A. Beauvillier, A. Pelech |
| BOS: D. Pastrnak (7) | C. McAvoy, P. Bergeron |
| BOS: D. Krejci (2) | C. Smith, M. Reilly |
Game Six Review: Bruins (2)- Islanders (6) (4-2 Isles win)
The Islanders defeated the Boston Bruins to move on to the third round for a rematch against the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of six to two. Rask stopped 23 of 29 shots faced and Brad Marchand has the two Bruin goals. Officiating was all over the place once again, from missed calls to questionable calls on both teams. With their post season cut short, the Bruins have some of their best players hitting the open market, with hopes of re-signing the talent of Hall, Krejci, Rask and potentially Reilly.
| Goal Scorer | Assists |
| NYI: T. Zajac (1) | N. Dobson, J. Pageau |
| BOS: B. Marchand (7) | D. Pastrnak, D. Krejci |
| NYI: B. Nelson (5) | J. Bailey, N. Leddy |
| NYI: B. Nelson (6) | J. Bailey |
| NYI: K. Palmieri (7) | Unassisted |
| BOS: B. Marchand (8) | D. Krejci, C. McAvoy |
| NYI: C. Clutterbuck (3) EN | J. Pageau, C. Cizikas |
| NYI: R. Pulock (3) EN | Unassisted |
During the final wrap-up of the season, several Bruins players announced that they had been dealing with injuries and some have elected to have surgery.
INJURY REPORT
- Kevan Miller: Concussion from Orlov hit
- Tuukka Rask: Torn labrum in hip, will undergo offseason surgery (out till Jan/Feb)
- Craig Smith: Groin injury
- Steven Kampfer: Torn ligament in hand, underwent surgery
- Curtis Lazar: MCL sprain and ACL bruise
- Charlie Coyle: will undergo surgery for undisclosed injury (knee)
- Matt Grzelcyk: hurt his hip early in season
Until Next Time
~ RJ
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