The Bruins (3-0-1) remained unbeaten at TD Garden in 2013 thanks to a 4-2 win Friday night against the Islanders (2-2-0). Rookie defenseman Dougie Hamilton had his first career multi-point game (2 assists) to earn the first star of the game and the fourth line contributed two goals as Boston has taken advantage of a favorable early schedule.
Tuukka Rask (24 saves) made his fourth straight start and for the third time, he allowed two goals or less. Shawn Thornton, Gregory Campbell, Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron all notched their first goals of the season while Milan Lucic dropped the gloves for the 1st time this season (41st in his career).
Waltham native Keith Aucoin had the first two goals for New York, who led 2-1 midway through the second period before Boston rallied for three goals in a row to close it out. After Hamilton and Daniel Paille’s shots, Thornton deposited a rebound past Winthrop’s Rick DiPietro (23 saves) at 4:52 in the first period. Lucic fought his old nemesis Matt Carkner (who used to be on Ottawa) but then New York tied it up when the Bruins were caught running around in their own end.
Colin McDonald passed to Aucoin, who was all alone in front at 11:13 in the first period. Paille was in the middle of the action as he flattened Brian Strait which prompted Thornton to step in (and earn a 10-minute misconduct). Paille’s turnover led to the Islanders’ second goal when Aucoin was able to one-time it past Rask at 9:50. Boston received a good bounce as David Krejci’s shot went off a skate right to Campbell, he tied it at 13:42.
Boston really turned up the heat in the third period and New York had no answer. After some great cycling down low by Nathan Horton, Lucic found Zdeno Chara out by the circle. He ended up with the game-winner at 7:07 but the goal of the night belonged to Bergeron: Hamilton passed to Marchand who sent Bergeron in alone on a breakaway. DiPietro went down and Bergeron worked around his extended glove at 13:33.
The Bruins head to Carolina (2-2-0) on Monday (7 p.m., NESN) for their first back-to-back. They host New Jersey (3-0-0)-the defending Eastern Conference champions-on Tuesday (7 p.m., NESN).
