Bruins 3, Islanders 1: Stymied and swept by Swayman

The Islanders fell to the Boston Bruins for the second time this month and the third time this season, an odd sweep (two regulation losses, one shootout) at the hands of a team that has been up and down and missing its top defenseman.

It was an odd game. The Islanders outshot Boston 45-14 (!), but in danger and control it was not that lopsided. This was not quite a case of the Isles getting robbed by a goalie — though Jeremy Swayman was solid throughout — but more of a team that has their number, that stymied their attack, controlled rebounds, protected the house, did enough to win a road game, yada yada.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

The Islanders got things started nicely after a great exchange involving everyone in the offensive zone before Mat Barzal tucked it in. That made it 1-0 just 4:41 in, but less than two minutes later, some guy who goes by the name of Alex Steeves tied it up on the first of his two goals in the game.

The go-ahead goal by Tanner Jeannot came in the first minute of the second period, after a baker’s dozen of odd bounces as players from both teams scrambled in the slot. Jeannot settled the puck and rifled over the shoulder of Ilya Sorokin, who never had too much to do.

It was one of those games that could’ve gone the other way at any point, but somehow just got more frustrating as that looked increasingly unlikely, even with a {checks post-game stat updates} 23-3 shot differential in the third.

The Isles had four power plays, including two in the second period, and generally rotated and moved the puck around impressively. But they could not crack the interior and their best one-timer opportunities always misfired or otherwise fell short. A shorthanded goal on their final power play (by that Steeves guy) proved to be the backbreaker midway through the third period.

The season-ending seven-game homestand that could undo their season-saving seven-game road trip continues after Thanksgiving when the Flyers visit. Thus far they’re 1-2 with two close regulation losses to two teams that were due for good efforts to refocus from recent struggles.

The loss drops the Isles back into the wild card spot, just one point ahead of Philadelphia — but of course the entire Metro and East is tight, so this will be a see-saw all season as long as the Isles hang in.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! See you on the other side.