Behind 44 saves from Jeremy Swayman and the first multi-goal games of Alex Steeves’s career, the Bruins beat the Islanders, 3-1, on Long Island Wednesday night.
Recap: Swayman shuts down Isles as Bruins win, 3-1
Another solid showing from #1.
NHLI via Getty Images
The win gives the Bruins a season-series sweep over the Islanders.
While Steeves deserves plaudits for his two goals (one of which was shorthanded), Swayman was the story in this one.
After Mat Barzal opened the scoring early in the first period, Swayman shut down the Islanders the rest of the way.
He made 34 saves across the last two periods, including a whopping 23 stops in the third period alone.
Barzal showed some nice hands and great patience to make it 1-0 Islanders five minutes into the game.
Steeves would get the Bruins on the board just two minutes later, tapping in a loose puck at the top of the crease to make it a 1-1 game.
Tanner Jeannot made it 2-1 Bruins early in the second, collecting a loose puck and beating Ilya Sorokin from the slot.
Steeves would cap the scoring on a great play midway through the third period, as he collected a turnover then finished a beautiful 2-on-1 with Fraser Minten to make it 3-1 Bruins.
And that was it!
The Isles would throw 16 more shots on Swayman’s net after the second Steeves goal, but they couldn’t find paydirt.
3-1, Bruins win!
Game notes
- While this game certainly won’t go down in the Clinical Win Hall of Fame, a win is a win! The Isles got goalied and probably deserved a better result, but the Bruins capitalized on their chances and got a big game from their grinders. Sometimes, that’s the way it goes.
- The Bruins had just three shots in the third period, one of which went it. The Isles, meanwhile, went 0-for-23 in the third. Sports!
- Minten ended up with two assists on the night. Similar to Barzal on his goal, Minten showed great hands and great patience to wait out the sprawling Matthew Schaefer and find Steeves.
- If you were told before the game that David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie would combine for zero points and two shots on goal, you could be forgiven for assuming the Bruins lost.
- Per the NESN broadcast, Steeves’s second goal was the first shorthanded goal of the season for the Bruins.
- Swayman is now the league leader in goals saved above expected.
The Bruins will be off on Thursday before hosting the New York Rangers at TD Garden on Black Friday. That game will have a 1 PM start, because the league hates fun. Bring back the 11 AM game.
Happy Thanksgiving! And Happy Thursday to you Canadians.
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