Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - Phil Kessel scored a goal and set up another in a 65-second span early in the first period, as the Boston Bruins held on for a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders at TD Banknorth Garden.

Marc Savard also scored and Tim Thomas made 21 saves for the Bruins, who have won two in a row on the heels of a 1-4-1 skid. Boston has won three straight on home ice.

"We had a good start but at the same time, the inability to play that way for a full game continues to be an issue right now," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien. "The win certainly does us a lot of good. Let's hope we can get those 60-minute type games we're looking for."

Mark Streit scored the lone goal for the Islanders and Yann Danis stopped 23 shots in defeat. New York was coming off a 3-2 overtime win in Montreal on Thursday and had won five of its previous seven entering the contest.

The Bruins established control early thanks to Kessel, who had two goals in Thursday's 5-3 win over Ottawa.

Kessel opened the scoring Saturday with his 30th of the season at the 3:16 mark, as he picked up the puck in the low left circle and snapped a shot past Danis. He then set up the second goal, taking the puck into the New York zone along the right wing boards before sending a pass into the slot for Savard, who ripped a shot home for his 22nd goal.

The Islanders managed just five shots on goal in the first period, then got on the board midway through the second when Streit skated untouched from the center line into the Boston zone to the inside edge of the right circle and beat Thomas with wrist shot to the short side.

Thomas came up with 10 saves in the scoreless third period to seal the victory, Boston's third in as many tries against the Islanders this season.

The Bruins had to kill a pair of penalties in the third period, including 42 seconds of a 5-on-3 Islander advantage.

"It's another win and another stepping stone," said Savard. "[The media] comes in here like it was going to be an easy game, but they've been playing well. We still have to get better."

Game Notes

Kessel became the first Bruin with 30 goals in a season since Patrice Bergeron netted 31 during the 2005-06 season...The Islanders were 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Bruins failed to score on their two chances with the extra skater...New York's Blake Comeau had a six-game point streak stopped...Boston improved to 24-6-5 on home ice this season...The Bruins visit Pittsburgh on Sunday, while the Islanders travel to Chicago.