Boston arrived at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum all tied up 1-1 for Game 3. Tuukka Rask was questionable with a groin injury, but started the game because this is hockey after all!
Bostons penalty kill was the highlight of the night, killing all three chances by the Islanders. Rask was phenomenal in net saving 28 shots out of 29.
“I try to play that style, be patient and calm in there. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. Just trying to make that save and give the team a chance to win”, Rask said after his stellar performance.
Craig Smith would open the scoring in the first period in his first game back since the third period of Game 1. Matt Barzal would tie it up off a defensive meltdown by the B’s with 5:26 left in the game.
It would be no other then Brad Marchand who would score the game-winning goal. A dump-off by Charlie McAvoy, who went to go off for a line change, when Marchand would score from a disgusting angle.
“That’s always something every team talks about going into overtime, you can’t pass up a shot. That’s another example of it”, Marchand said on his game-winner.
Head Coach of the Bruins, Bruce Cassidy would get his 33rd playoff victory, passing Art Ross for second in Bruins Playoff history. The great Claude Julien is first with 57 playoff victories.
Game 4 will be Saturday at the Coliseum. A Bruins victory could bring them to a demanding 3-1 series lead and could be the last game ever played in the Isles home as they will get a brand new stadium next season.