. Boston has won seven consecutive meetings between the teams - eight in a row in New York. Rask had to make only 13 saves for his fourth shutout this season, and first ever against the Islanders. Robin Lehner, making first start since he was injured March 5 late in New York's 5-4 shootout win at home against Ottawa, finished with 34 saves. The Islanders' 13 shots were their fewest of the season. David Pastrnak returned to the Bruins' lineup for first time since Feb. 10. He missed 16 games with a thumb injury sustained when he fell after a team dinner. Boston dominated play from the start, scoring once in the first period and twice each in the second and third. The Bruins outshot the Islanders 14-2 in the first, 10-6 in the second and 15-5 in the third. After a turnover by the Islanders, Bergeron converted a pass from Joakim Nordstrom on a rush for his 28th goal at 6:32 of the third. DeBrusk scored his 23rd on a breakaway to make it 5-0 with 9:40 remaining. Islanders forward Matt Martin and Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara had an altercation in the first period, then dropped the gloves and fought right after the puck drop at the start of the second. That briefly energized the home crowd, but Acciari extended the Bruins' lead to 2-0 with a straightaway shot from inside the blue line, beating Lehner through the legs at 2:52. It was his fourth of the season. The Islanders went on a power play 7 1/2 minutes into the middle period, but managed just one shot on goal during the advantage, drawing boos from the home crowd. Josh Bailey had an odd-man rush minutes later, but Rask came out to challenge him and Bailey's attempt went wide. Kuraly scored his second of the night and eighth of the season to make it 3-0 with 3:43 left in the second. He knocked the puck away from Bailey in the corner to Lehner's right, and Danton Heinen got it behind the net. His wraparound try came to Kuraly, who beat the goalie from the left circle. Kuraly got the Bruins on the board 1:12 into the game. He corralled the puck along the side boards, skated into the right circle, turned and fired a shot that beat Lehner on the glove side inside the post. It was Kuraly's first goal in 23 games since Jan. 17. NOTES: New York F Valtteri Filppula left midway through the first period, several minutes after he was hit by Connor Clifton. Filppula did not return. Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas both went to the dressing room during the second period. Cizikas was back for the start of the third. ... New York D Adam Pelech played in his 200th regular-season game. ... Islanders D Johnny Boychuk missed his fifth straight game since he was injured March 9 against Philadelphia. New York coach Barry Trotz said Boychuk was cleared to return, but was scratched due to the team's depth on defense. ... The Islanders played a video tribute to Bruins G Jaroslav Halak about 6 1/2 minutes in. Halak spent four seasons in New York before signing with the Bruins last summer to serve as Rask's backup. He waved to the crowd as fans chanted ''Ja-ro! Ja-ro!'' ... The Islanders' last win against the Bruins was 4-0 at Boston on Jan. 16, 2017, in former coach Jack Capuano's last game before he was fired. UP NEXTBruins: At the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, the second game in a stretch of four straight on the road. Islanders: At the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.---Follow Vin Cherwoo at www.twitter.com/VinCherwoo---More NHL: www.apnews.com/NHL and www.twitter.com/-Sports)
Time: 7:00 PM EDT Venue: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY / The Boston Bruins could have a significant piece of their lineup back when they play at the New York Islanders on Tuesday night. Right winger David Pastrnak, who has missed 16 games after injuring his left thumb in an off-ice fall, participated fully in practice Monday and could play Tuesday in a battle of playoff-bound Eastern Conference teams at Nassau Coliseum." Not saying that he will, but he'll make that decision in conjunction with the medical staff as early as (Tuesday) after morning skate," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said on NHL.com. "I would assume he'll be a game-time decision. ... I suspect if he doesn't play (Tuesday) that Thursday will be a real good day." Pastrnak, 22, was the team's leader scorer when he slipped and fell after attending a sponsorship dinner with several of his teammates on Feb. 10. Pastrnak is still tied for the team lead with 31 goals and is third with 66 points in 56 games. He also was leading the NHL in power-play goals (15) at the time of his injury. The Islanders were off Monday after earning a 3-2 overtime win over the host Minnesota Wild on Sunday, The Bruins last played Saturday, when they snapped a three-game losing streak by edging the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-1, in overtime. New York goalie Thomas Greiss capped one of the best weeks of his career in recording the win Sunday, when he made 32 saves. The 33-year-old was named the NHL's first star of the week Monday in recognition of going 3-1-0 with a 1.25 goals against average while recording a .959 save percentage and facing the most shots in the NHL (121) in that span. The recent surge began with Robin Lehner sidelined due to an upper-body injury believed to be a concussion. Lehner, who started 19 of the Islanders' first 28 games of 2019 before getting hurt against Ottawa on March 5, was establishing himself as a Vezina Trophy candidate by going 20-11-5 with a 2.19 goals-against average. But now Greiss, who is 22-12-2 this season with a 2.21 goals-against average, has basically become Lehner's equal. It's a nice problem for the Islanders to have as they head toward the playoffs for the first time since 2016." We haven't overextended our goalies all year," Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said after Greiss recorded a 31-save shutout in a 2-0 win over the Blue Jackets on March 11. "I don't see any reason for concern right now." Boston will likely turn to Tuukka Rask, who has started five of the last eight games and 39 overall this season. Jaroslav Halak started and earned the win Saturday by making 19 saves. Regardless of who starts at goalie, the Bruins will expect to continue the defensive effort they displayed against the Blue Jackets. Boston, which allowed 15 goals during its three-game losing streak, limited Columbus to just 20 shots on Saturday. The Bruins' 95 points are the second-most in the Eastern Conference behind the Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning (114 points). Boston entered Monday with the third-fewest goals allowed (185) in the NHL. The Islanders are first at 173 goals allowed.--Field Level Media
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