Bruins 3-goal comeback keeps Tavares, Islanders winless

October 10, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

It was all going right for John Tavares and the Islanders. With under nine minutes left in regulation against the mighty Bruins, they’d silenced TD Northbank Garden with an impressive performance that had them up three. At that point, Scott Gordon’s club had played a whale of a game totally outworking the top Eastern team who again looked like a shadow of themselves versus a younger, hungrier foe.

“If we look back at the start of the year and said to ourselves, `We could be 3-0 with a bounce here or there,’ we’d be happy with that, but it’s obviously hurts to not get the two points tonight,” Gordon lamented of how close his team has been.

Instead, the wheels fell off with Marc Savard starting a three-goal comeback that prevented the Islanders from picking up the season’s first win. Instead, it was the more talented Bruins that woke up just in the nick of time to post a crushing 4-3 shootout home win over the gritty road club, who fell to 0-0-1-2. If ever a game felt like a loss, this was it with the more inexperienced team self destructing, spoiling another impressive night from their prize rookie who notched a goal and an assist, increasing his season totals to 2-3-5 in his first three NHL games.

Perhaps it looked too easy for Tavares and teammates, who methodically built a three-goal lead thanks to a dominant second period. Jon Sim got it started by converting on the power play. Off a broken play, he notched his first of the season picking up a loose Rob Schremp pass to beat Tuukka Rask in front. Schremp, who the Isles claimed from Edmonton off waivers, registered his first point as an Islander with Kyle Okposo adding a secondary assist.

The Islanders continued to take the play to the Bruins, who looked lost much of the night. For some reason, they didn’t use their bigger bodies and repeatedly lost battles against a team intent on getting that first ‘W.’ Things continued to look promising for the underdog when defenseman Radek Martinek finished off a nice passing play from Tavares and Mark Streit. The crafty Tavares started the play behind the Bruins net with a nifty backhand feed to Streit, who then dished across for Martinek who in turn moved it back to Streit. Streit then passed out to Tavares, who quickly wheeled the puck over to a wide open Martinek, who rifled home his first from the right faceoff circle upstairs, increasing to 2-0 at 12:43. The wonderful playmaking exhibited why they chose Tavares, who thus far seems intent on proving why.

If No.91 had already impressed, then what came next was the kinda goalscorer’s goal Islander fans should come to expect from the franchise center. With the Bruins pressing, Freddy Meyer stepped up at his own blueline to force a turnover, starting a two-on-one. Here came Tavares flying down the right side looking off Rask before firing high, inside the right post for his second goal that popped the Gatorade bottle. This was awesome stuff from a guy with tremendous skill because there wasn’t much real estate but like great players can do, he found the hole burying the chance for 3-zip with 4:12 left in the second.

In between that goal came a big save from veteran goalie Dwayne Roloson, who made a splendid glove save to deny Marco Sturm on a nice individual effort. For 40 minutes, the former Oiler wasn’t asked to do much stopping all 14 Bruin shots. Not surprisingly, the home club was booed off the ice by an impatient crowd that can’t like what they’ve seen from a team many expect to challenge for the Cup. They’ve already been embarrassed twice on home ice during the five-game homestand. Maybe no Phil Kessel is having an affect. And it also looks blatantly obvious that severely overpaid Derek Morris ain’t Aaron Ward.

If that weren’t enough, Claude Julien lost valuable defenseman Dennis Wideman late in the second when he landed awkwardly following a turnover in which Matt Moulson stepped on him. The B’s No.2 left the ice favoring his left shoulder. If it’s serious, that could be a huge blow.

Things continued to look good for the Isles following a strong penalty kill of a late Meyer penalty that spanned the second and third. But they couldn’t cash in a power play of their own with Mark Recchi off for interference. The Bruins still looked dead in the water unable to mount much of an attack. For nearly eight minutes, they managed only three shots with none threatening Roloson, who finished with 27 saves.

However, just when they seemed on their way, the roof caved in. Savard got the comeback started off some strong work down low from new $4 million man Milan Lucic. After Zdeno Chara fanned on a one-timer, Savard quickly buried a one-timer shortside on Roloson, cutting it to 3-1 with 8:01 left. Before they got closer, Sean Bergenheim had a great opportunity to restore order but Rask stopped him, giving the home club a chance. Unfortunately, the missed chance cameback to haunt the Islanders with the Boston fourth line striking against Tavares’ unit when Byron Bitz abused Andy Sutton before backhanding a shot off Meyer and in, slicing it to one with 4:25 remaining. Curiously, Gordon didn’t call timeout.

Perhaps the second-year coach should have because it was evident that his team was in collapse mode. With the Bruins buzzing, they maintained puck possession for a minute even changing forwards. As they played keepaway, eventually the puck came to Matt Hunwick, who faked at the left point and then fired a long 45-footer that changed direction surprising Roloson for the equalizer less than two minutes later. Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ference set it up. In less than six minutes, Boston scored three straight.

Both teams continued to go for it but neither could finish it off in regulation. Overtime was also entertaining with the Isles holding a 5-4 SOG edge but both goalies were strong forcing the skill competition. In their home opener, the Islanders blew leads to the defending champs before Sidney Crosby finished them in the shootout. Even more curious is that Gordon didn’t use Tavares, who also didn’t get much time during four-on-four. Was that cause his line got victimized on the B’s second tally?

In Round One, both Wheeler (five-hole deke) and Schremp (backhand deke off Rask and in) split goals. After Patrice Bergeron and Richard Park were thwarted, Savard very appropriately gave the B’s a 2-1 edge with a beautiful forehand backhand deke, hitting the Gatorade bottle.  With his team needing one to extend, Okposo was deliberate before going in too deep as Rask snuffed out his forehand deke sending the Islanders to a third consecutive loss.

This one a lot more disappointing.

Notes: The three straight extras was the first time that’s happened to the Islanders since 2006 when they had a similar stretch (Oct.15-21). … It was the Isles’ seventh consecutive defeat to Boston with their last win coming back on Nov.24, 2007. … In his second start, Roloson was less than nine minutes away from a shutout which would’ve been the Islanders’ first in 68 trips to Beantown. His counterpart Rask was strong making 35 saves including all 16 in a busy first. … Special Teams: NYI 1-of-7 PP, Bos 0-of-5. … With a helper, Okposo has points in all three while showing no ill effects of a mild concussion suffered in preseason. The second-year right wing had six shots and went plus-one in 19:26. … Hunwick had a goal and assist for the B’s. … Isles lost the faceoff battle with the Bruins prevailing 34-29 with Savard (15-9) and Steve Begin (9-4) leading the way while Tavares (9-10) and Josh Bailey (6-7) were decent. … Islanders (0-0-1-2, 3 Pts) return to Nassau Coliseum for an annual Columbus Day 2 PM tilt versus the Kings Monday.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Tuukka Rask, (35 saves incl.16 in 1st plus final 13 for 1st victory of season)

2nd Star-Matt Hunwick, (tying goal, A, SOG, blocked shot, +1 in 19:21)

1st Star-John Tavares, (2nd of season, A, 4 SOG, 9-10 draws, +1 in 20:57)