The New York Islanders (8-10-5) hit a new low on Thanksgiving Eve 2024. Despite limiting the Boston Bruins (11-10-3) to only 21 shots, they allowed six goals. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin had a rough outing, and the team didn’t provide enough support for the goals scored against him.
The Bruins, who had lost 2-0 the previous night in Boston and hadn’t held a two-goal lead since November 7, managed to turn their fortunes around. They entered the game with only 10 goals in the third period over 23 matches but outperformed the seemingly fresher Islanders, who had no game the day before.
Pavel Zacha contributed two third-period goals to secure a 6-3 win over New York in a tightly contested match. Brad Marchand added two more goals, Morgan Geekie netted his second of the season, and Nikita Zadorov scored an empty-netter for his first goal with the Bruins. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 21 of 24 shots.
For the Islanders, Brock Nelson remained in form, scoring two goals and adding a primary assist. Maxim Tsyplakov ended an 11-game goalless streak with a first-period goal. Meanwhile, Sorokin struggled, saving just 15 out of 20 shots.
This marked the 17th consecutive game in which the Islanders conceded at least one third-period goal. Additionally, for the fifth time in six games, they had a chance to win late but ultimately lost.
**First Period:**
The Bruins quickly took charge, leading 1-0 just 57 seconds in and extending it to 2-0 within 6:31. Both goals were scored by Brad Marchand, the first from a face-off play and the second after a collision near the net. Coach Patrick Roy called a timeout to regroup, and the Islanders eventually pressed, leading to Tsyplakov’s goal following a turnover.
**Second Period:**
Midway through the second, another lucky break occurred for the Islanders as they capitalized on a turnover, with Nelson scoring his first goal of the night and tying the game at 2-2. Shortly after, Geekie scored from a setup by Zacha to put Boston back in the lead 3-2. The Islanders fought back again, with Nelson scoring just before the second intermission, leaving the score tied as they headed into the third.
**Third Period:**
Initially outplaying the Bruins, the Islanders tied the game at 3-3 but lost momentum when Zacha redirected a shot past Sorokin to regain the lead for Boston. Pastrnak then assisted Zacha again, leading to a decisive goal. The Islanders had a late power play but failed to capitalize, allowing Zadorov to score an empty-netter.
**Closing Thoughts:**
This latest loss is among the worst as the Islanders struggle to maintain their footing in the standings. With recent performances leaving much to be desired, they appear to be akin to unappetizing Thanksgiving leftovers, invoking a sense of regret rather than encouragement as Thanksgiving approaches. While the season is not yet lost, the Islanders face significant challenges ahead.
