Highlights from Bruins' 2-1 shootout win over the Islanders

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FINAL SCORE: Bruins 2, Islanders 1 (SO)

FROM JOE HAGGERTY:

BOSTON - Ryan Donato made it a notable first game back after being recalled to the Bruins from AHL Providence as he scored the game-winner in the shootout. It was a great double-move with a forehand fake into a backhand that Donato was able to tuck around the leg pad of Robin Lehner, reminiscent of Rick Middleton on the night the Bruins raised Nifty's No. 16 to the Garden rafters. 

In all, Donato finished with four shot attempts in 10:41 of ice time along with a blocked shot and a face-off win and managed to avoid any of the defensive issues that had plagued him in the early part of the season. All in all, a very strong first game back for the rookie winger.

It’s another one-goal decision for the Bruins as has been customary for a long stretch of time for the Black and Gold. Six of their past seven have been one-goal decisions while battling without injured Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron, four of them have gone to the extra session. The only game that wasn’t a one-goal game was a 4-2 loss to the Maple Leafs where Toronto got an empty-net goal in the final minutes of the game. So it’s true that the Bruins are truly grinding away at things right now.  Tuukka Rask had another strong game in net with 28 saves, including big stops in the 3-on-3 OT. He also made four saves in the shootout. 

In the second period, Brad Marchand with a big play to snap a seven-game goal-scoring drought when he smoked a one-timer at the bottom of the circle after a slick David Pastrnak backhanded pass through traffic found him on the power play. With Marchand ending his drought and Pastrnak breaking up his five-game goalless stretch with the two scores on Monday against Toronto, now would be a good time for Boston’s two best healthy offensive performers to go on a little hot streak.

A scary sight at the end of the second as David Krejci is drilled by Thomas Hickey at the B’s defensive blue line and g0ts caught with his head down. It was a bit of a high hit as well and makes one wonder what the Bruins could possibly do to survive if they also lost No. 46 for a period of time as well. Joakim Nordstrom grabbed Hickey in an angry hug and that’s all that was really done in response to the thunderous hit. That response isn’t good enough. The good news was that Krejci returned to the Bruins bench in the opening minute of the third period, was back on the ice and appeared to be okay after absorbing the big contact.

In the first period, the Bruins got into a situation with Matt Grzelcyk and Torey Krug out on the ice together at the same time and they ended up paying for it. The Bruins got hemmed into their own zone, and eventually, Anders Lee pushed his way through the small D-men to the net where he shoveled home a loose puck that Tuukka Rask couldn’t freeze. You really can’t afford to have those two guys out on the ice together unless it’s a power play.

HIGHLIGHTS
DONATO'S GAME WINNER

THE HIT ON KREJCI

LEE GIVES ISLES 1-0 LEAD

MARCHAND TIES IT

BRUINS RECORD: 14-7-4
BOX SCORE 

UP NEXT
SATURDAY: Vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m. (NESN)

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