Stefen Rosner
The Boston Bruins tried to rough up Mathew Barzal in Game 4, but the New York Islanders star had the last laugh on Saturday night. Barzal scored the game-winning goal in the third period to lead the Islanders to a 4-1 win over Boston and evened the best-of-seven series at 2-2. The goal was Barzal’s second of the playoffs and the second consecutive game he’s scored in during the Islanders series with Boston. (NYI Hockey Now)
It was a fight until the finish but the New York Islanders had the final say. After dropping Game 3 in overtime, the Islanders rallied for four unanswered goals to take Game 4, 4-1, and even up the best-of-7 series with the Boston Bruins. It was a physical game with fights early, but Mathew Barzal’s go-ahead goal with under 10 minutes to go broke a 1-1 tie and the Isles then added two empty-netters. There was chaos and energy in this one so let’s break it down a little more. (NYI Hockey Now)
The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders were scoreless after one period of play in Game 4 but there was plenty of action and entertainment in what became Saturday Fight Night at the Nassau Coliseum. The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders had combined for 282 hits in the first three games of the East Division Final and it almost seemed inevitable the individual battles that have been developing through that physical play were going to boil over at some point. (NYI Hockey Now)
The New York Islanders move to UBS Arena at Belmont Park isn’t for another few months, but the “Let’s Go Islanders” chants were already starting there on Saturday during the Belmont Stakes. (NYI Hockey Now)
Much like in Game 4 of the first round against the Penguins, the Islanders were at their best in the series-tying Game 4 against the Bruins on Saturday night. Onto the takeaways. (The Athletic)
This game, just like the entirety of this second-round series, was everything NHL playoff hockey is supposed to be. The Islanders and Bruins again engaged in an even battle at a tension-filled Nassau Coliseum. It’s only fitting this series is now tied at two games apiece after the Islanders’ 4-1 win on Saturday night and there will be at least one more playoff game at the venerable barn, which again seated a deafening 12,000. (Newsday)
It was a third period destined perhaps to define a season, and perhaps to extend an era. The Islanders and Bruins were tied at 1 with 20 minutes to play in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday night, and losing was not an option for the home team. So the Islanders didn’t. Mathew Barzal scored with 6:57 left in the third period, and after two empty-net goals it was 4-1, with Game 5 in Boston and, yes, at least one more game at the Old Barn on Wednesday. (Newsday)
Mathew Barzal scored the go-ahead goal with 6:57 remaining in the third period, and the New York Islanders evened the Stanley Cup Second Round with a 4-1 win against the Boston Bruins in Game 4 at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday. (NHL)
Evgeni Malkin is not the savior of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan instead refers to him as one of the Penguins two generational talents, including Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)
For the third IIHF World Hockey Championship in a row, a Detroit Red Wings player is guaranteed to go home with a medal. For the second time in three years, Wings players are in position to grab multiple medals. (Detroit Hockey Now)
“We’re kidding ourselves if we think that’s how competitive we need to be against the team that tied us for first in the league,” a fervent Jared Bednar said after Game 3. The always-stoic Avs head coach rarely shows as much ardency as he did in his post-game presser Friday night. He was clearly displeased,…(Colorado Hockey Now)
Make no mistake, the Round Two clash of the titans between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche has been anything but an epic clash. It’s been a beatdown. (Vegas Hockey Now)
What’s in a draft pick? This week’s Draft lottery confirmed that the San Jose Sharks would pick seventh in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. This will be San Jose’s first top-10 selection since 2015 and the first time they’ll pick No. 7. But not every lottery pick smells as sweet. (San Jose Hockey Now)
