Returning to action after having their last two games postponed, the Bruins welcomed the New York Islanders to TD Garden Thursday night, and in front of their own fans for the first time in over a year.
After an expected slow start, the Bruins shook off the rust with a few hard-working shifts and were rewarded on the scoreboard.
Unfortunately, they were unable to extend the lead on the power play, let the Islanders back in the game, and had to force overtime late in the third period to salvage a point before falling in overtime.
The Bruins are now 0-3-2 against the East-leading Islanders this season.
Here are three key takeaways from the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss to the Isles.
Coyle line exemplifies how to play the right way
It's amazing how simplifying the game and sticking to the basics lead to offense — especially at the highest level.
Every player has so much individual skill that they sometimes revert to trying to do too much and be too finesse when offense is lacking.
The latest rendition of the Bruins' third line featuring Karson Kuhlman (before his injury) alongside Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork exemplified exactly how the Bruins need to play on their goal-scoring shift.
A simple neutral zone dump-in by Charlie McAvoy was collected along the left wing boards by Kuhlman who wasted no time firing a quick, bad angle snap shot over the shoulder of Semyon Varlamov.
While it was a simple, smart play by Kuhlman to put the puck on net, it was Coyle's net-front presence that took the eyes away from Varlamov allowing Kuhlman's shot to find the back of the net.
Coyle and Bjork continued to be the Bruins' best forwards all game long and came through once again when Bjork tied the game in the final two minutes on a wonderful feed from Coyle behind the net.
Highlight reel goals are fun for players to score and fans to watch, but simple, effective hockey is winning hockey.
2. Tuukka Rask leaves the game
Prior to Thursday night's start against the Islanders, Tuukka Rask had been out of action since March 7.
His return would only last one period as he would not return for the final 40 minutes.
This leads to more cause for concern than before — the last two weeks it was reasonable to excuse Rask's absence to injury maintenance. Now, however, it's alarming that he had to leave a game he otherwise felt healthy enough to start.
The team has deemed the injury "upper body" and while it's uncertain if it's related to the injury from a few weeks ago, it wouldn't be too surprising.
Either way, Rask's recent injury woes are troublesome for a Bruins team that will no doubt need their number one goaltender to fulfill their Stanley Cup aspirations.
It seems as though if Rask is once again sidelined, Jaroslav Halak and Dan Vladar will have to continue to step up.
3. Over before it started
It was an up and down affair for the Bruins throughout their overtime loss to the Islanders.
On the one hand, it was extremely disappointing to watch the Bruins squander a 2-0 lead with a four-minute power play to help ice the game in the second period — on the other hand, it was great to see them force overtime after responding to a late go-ahead goal by the Islanders.
Nonetheless, it was a questionable decision by head coach Bruce Cassidy to have Charlie Coyle, Anders Bjork and Matt Grzelcyk start the overtime session.
There were very valid reasons for Cassidy's overtime lineup — Bjork and Coyle played well all game, combined for two goals, including the game-winner, and play fast and responsible. Grzelcyk also plays with speed.
Nick Leddy's initial shot that led to Anthony Beauvillier's winning goal was a shot that Halak should have tied up for a whistle.
That said, it's worth questioning why Charlie McAvoy, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand didn't start the overtime frame, especially when the game ended 21 seconds after the opening face-off.
While it's convenient and cliche to be a Monday morning quarterback, it's always better, when given the choice, to win or lose with your best players on the ice rather than your depth players.
Though Cassidy had his reasons, he chose wrong on this occasion.
