Semyon Varlamov saved 27 shots on goal in his 29th. Career loss, Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored 4:09 from the end, and the New York Islanders defeated the Boston Bruins 1-0 at their home debut at the Nassau Coliseum on Monday.
Adam Pelech fired from the left and Patrice Bergeron of Boston deflected the puck in the air. Pageau hit Bruins goalkeeper Tuukka Rask to put the Islanders on the scoreboard.
“It was a great look for Pelly, putting the record on the net,” said Pageau. “I think his record could have come in, I put a stick in it just to be sure. It was a great effort throughout the game. “
Varlamov, who lost Saturday’s game against Rangers after tearing a disc from his neck in a warm-up before the game, was eliminated for the second time in two games this season. He made 24 saves in a 4-0 win over Rangers last Thursday.
“I will make consecutive closings, I will not lie,” said Varlamov. “I’m very happy today. But this is only the beginning of the year, many games coming. We played well today and I’m happy that we scored the important goal in the end. “
Varlamov prevented consecutive chances for Nick Ritchie with about a minute left to keep the Bruins off the scoreboard.
“I thought he was a big reason for us to win tonight,” said Islanders coach Barry Trotz of his goalkeeper. “He made some very good saves against a very good hockey team. He just calmed our game down, gave us a chance. In the second period, we put our feet in motion and started to play more with our identity. “
It was a huge recovery win for the Islanders, coming from a 5-0 loss to Rangers two nights earlier.
Rask, who had defeated the Islanders in seven of his last eight games against them, stopped 16 shots for Bruins at the end of his three-season opening game trip. Boston won in a penalty shootout and then lost in OT in games in New Jersey.
“We are at the beginning of the season and we are playing very well,” said Rask. “I just have to stay with him and not hang heads. Difficult jump. This is how it happens sometimes. “
It was the Islanders’ first home game since March 7, when they lost 3-2 in overtime against Carolina at the Nassau Coliseum. With no fans present this time because of the coronavirus pandemic, there were cardboard cutouts in the stands and crowd noise was pumped through the speakers.
“We are used to it,” said Pelech. “It’s a shame because we all love playing in this building when it’s full of fans. But at this point we are used to it and it seems that this is how it will be. “
Islanders’ Mathew Barzal hit the post during a power play less than two minutes from the third. Anthony Beauvillier was denied by Rask with a right defense near the middle of the period.
After a first period in which they had few chances to score, the Islanders picked up the pace in the second and overcame Boston 7-6. However, Varlamov and Rask let nothing pass them by.
The Bruins beat the Islanders 11-3 in the first period. New York had two shots on goal in the first 2:19, but failed to get another one until Nick Leddy’s shot, with 33 seconds remaining.
Boston’s David Krejci fired a shot from the post four and a half minutes before the end of the opening period.