David Pastrnak’s game one hat trick didn’t do the New York Islanders any favors on Saturday night. After a hard-fought tilt with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York’s next opponent, the Boston Bruins, spent many days getting rested and ready for game one at a packed TD Garden.
Both teams exchanged power-play goals in the first frame and exchanged goals in the second as well. However, in the third period, it was a different story.
Charlie McAvoy scored to give the Bruins a lead, and that was followed up by Pastrnak’s hat trick clinching goal. Boston won 5-2 after Taylor Hall put the puck into New York’s empty net.
While it certainly wasn’t the game one result Barry Trotz and the Islanders were looking for, Isles netminder Ilya Sorokin played an excellent game and made thirty-five saves, Jordan Eberle had two points, Noah Dobson is solidifying himself as a stud, and for the most part, the Isles defense held their own. Game two on Monday night (7:30 PM Eastern Time) is critical for New York, and borderline must-win as they look to head back to the Nassau Coliseum with the series tied.
