With the second-round series between the Bruins and Islanders tied at one win apiece, the series shifted down to Long Island for Game 3 at Nassau Coliseum.
In front of 12,000 deafening Islanders fans, the Bruins looked to silence the crowd with a win to regain both momentum and home ice in the best-of-seven series.
That’s exactly what they did as the Bruins held a 1-0 lead for most of regulation before the Islanders scored later in regulation to force overtime. After Tuukka Rask turned aside some Islanders pressure early in overtime, Brad Marchand netted the winner on a tough-angle shot that beat Semyon Varlamov.
The Bruins have now been to overtime in five of their eight playoff games so far this season.
Many teams would have folded after relinquishing a late lead in an arena as jumping as Nassau Coliseum, but the Bruins’ experience enabled them to bend but not break in a difficult scenario and find a way to win.
Here are three key takeaways from the Bruins' 2-1 overtime victory as they now lead the series 2-1.
1. Marchand does it again
In a reverse of fortune, the Bruins flipped the script on the Islanders. Game 2 saw the Bruins force overtime on home ice only to fall in the extra session after having more quality chances.
Well in Game 3, it was the Islanders forcing overtime late in regulation and having the better of play in overtime, only to have the Bruins come away with the win.
In a game where the Bruins dominated much of the play — on the road no less — the Islanders stuck around as they always do and found a way to tie the game late after Boston couldn’t extend the lead on two third-period power play chances.
After Mathew Barzal tied the game, the Islanders themselves had a power play with just over two minutes remaining in the third period, but couldn’t convert.
As overtime got underway, the Isles pushed the envelope as their home crowd buzzed in anticipation of a game-winning goal and 2-1 series lead. It wasn’t meant to be as Tuukka Rask stood tall in overtime with a flurry of game-saving stops before the Bruins capitalized on an opportunistic rush.
Calm, cool and collected, Charlie McAvoy skated the puck out of his own zone and gained the offensive blue-line before dishing a subtle pass over to Brad Marchand hopping onto the ice. Marchand, savvy as ever, understood that Semyon Varlamov had not yet been tested and lifted a surprising wrist shot from beneath the left faceoff circle over the shoulder of the Isles netminder for the game-winner.
Marchand’s resume of clutch goals grows larger with his second overtime winner in the 2021 postseason — both on the road.
2. Craig Smith is back
Craig Smith had missed the last game and a half after exiting Game 1 with a lower-body injury. The injury occurred after a blue-line collision with Cal Clutterbuck and sidelined Smith in Game 2 before returning to the lineup on Thursday night.
Smith’s absence was glaring in Game 2 as David Krejci and Taylor Hall didn’t appear to be as dangerous without their third linemate. Fortunately for the Bruins' second line, Smith announced himself early in Game 3 and scored the opening goal to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
It all started with a phenomenal backchecking effort by Hall on Mathew Barzal. Hall disrupted the Islanders forward at the Bruins defensive blue line and allowed Boston to transition to offense. Later in the play, Hall found Smith in the slot and he wasted no time zipping a snapshot under the crossbar.
Aside from his goal, Smith was effective all night on the forecheck and in all three zones and a much needed addition back into the Bruins lineup.
3. Brandon Carlo leaves game with head injury
One of the biggest concerns playing the first two rounds within the East Division was that there would likely be multiple injuries playing against the Capitals and Islanders in seven-game series. Kevan Miller is already out after being concussed in Round 1 against the Capitals, Craig Smith has already missed time after being injured by Cal Clutterbuck, and now Clutterbuck has injured another important Bruin — Brandon Carlo.
Just about midway through the third period, Carlo was hit hard and clean by Clutterbuck as he was retrieving a puck behind the Bruins net. Carlo’s head banged hard off the glass due to the impact of the check and he was wobbly leaving the ice. It’s easy to assume it may be another concussion — of which Carlo has had a few already in his Bruins career, including earlier this year thanks to Tom Wilson.
If Carlo is out for any significant time, losing a top-four defenseman will be a tough pill for the Bruins to swallow.
UPDATE: Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy provided an update on Carlo after the game that was at least a little bit encouraging.