Donato Nets Shootout Winner In Return, Bruins Best Isles 2-1
BOSTON (AP) — Ryan Donato scored the decisive shootout goal in his NHL return, Tuukka Rask made 28 saves and the Boston Bruins outlasted the New York Islanders 2-1 on Thursday night.
Donato, recalled Wednesday after a demotion to Providence of the AHL, tucked the winner past Islanders goalie Robin Lehner on the Bruins' fourth attempt. Boston has earned at least one point in five of its past six games.
Brad Marchand scored in regulation for the Bruins, who ended up in their first shootout this season.
Anders Lee had a goal and Lehner made 35 saves for the Islanders, who lost their second straight game.
Lehner allowed just one goal in regulation after giving up three or more in four consecutive starts.
New York had a goal waved off with 3:47 to play in overtime after Anthony Beauvillier fell behind Rask in the crease before Mathew Barzal flipped the puck over the goaltender.
Lee, the Islanders' captain, netted his eighth goal of the season with 7:43 left in the first period, poking a rebound through Rask's pads after Scott Mayfield sent the puck on net from the right circle.
Lee's goal came seconds after a delayed penalty drawn by Barzal.
Marchand tied it for Boston with 7:51 to play in the second following Nick Leddy's high-sticking penalty. Marchand rocketed a one-timer from the right circle off a feed from David Pastrnak.
Marchand's tally snapped a seven-game goal drought and was his first since scoring once in a 4-1 win against Vegas on Nov. 11.
The Islanders and Bruins meet twice more this season, next on Feb. 5 in Boston.
NOTES: The Bruins retired longtime right wing Rick Middleton's No. 16 before the game. Middleton, nicknamed "Nifty," spent 12 seasons (1976-88) with Boston and ranks third in team history in goals (402) and fourth in points (898). ... Bruins backup goalie Jaroslav Halak played 177 games (170 starts) for the Islanders from 2014-18, posting an 88-65-19 record with a 2.69 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. ... Islanders C Valtteri Filppula played in his 900th NHL game. ... Boston assigned LW Anders Bjork to Providence before the game.
UP NEXT
Islanders: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
Bruins: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.
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