Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - Matt Moulson scored twice and Richard Park picked up three assists, as the
New York Islanders defeated the
Boston Bruins, 4-1, at TD Garden.
Rookie John Tavares also lit the lamp for the Islanders, who had lost seven straight games to Boston. Dwayne Roloson notched the win with a 28-save performance.
"They're a great offensive team," Roloson said. "They get pucks in our end. They are able to control the puck and our guys did a great job of not allowing them to get any quality chances."
Daniel Paille had the lone goal for the Bruins, who have lost three games in a row. Tuukka Rask stopped 17 shots in defeat.
"We're a team that did not play well enough to win here tonight," said Boston head coach Claude Julien. "A big game like that, when you are battling for a spot, we didn't play smart enough. Mistakes keep coming back to bite us. The puck ends up in our net and we are playing catch-up hockey."
The Islanders grabbed a 1-0 lead six minutes into the game. New York rearguard Jack Hillen carried the puck down the right side and into the Boston zone. As he drove to the net, Hillen threw a backhander on goal. Moulson found the puck and fired home a shot from the high slot.
Boston failed to convert on an extended two-man advantage in the second half of the first period.
Paille pumped in his own rebound to put Boston on the board with 5:04 remaining in the middle stanza, but Moulson restored the lead nearly four minutes later, potting his team-leading 10th goal of the season off a feed from Park.
New York led 3-1 when Park slid a pass to the teenaged Tavares at the top of the crease and he fired a shot that deflected off the skate of Boston defenseman Matt Hunwick and inside the left post at 1:50 of the third.
Trent Hunter's empty-net goal in the final minute sealed the win for New York.
Game Notes
Moulson entered this season with six career goals in 29 games -- all with Los Angeles...Tavares leads all first-year players in goals (9) and points (19)...Islanders defenseman Mark Streit skated in his 300th NHL game...The Isles' last victory over Boston came on November 24, 2007...New York resumes its seven-game road trip Friday at Minnesota...The Bruins embark on a four- game road trip, beginning Thursday in Atlanta.
