Tavares Snaps Late Tie, Lifts Isles Over Bruins

Struggling on the road and playing against the defending Stanley Cup champions, New York Islanders coach Jack Capuano knew what most were likely thinking before this late-season matchup.

"If you look at the standings, a lot of people were probably not giving us a chance," Capuano said after the Islanders beat the Bruins 3-2 on Saturday to snap a five-game, road-losing streak.

John Tavares tipped in Matt Moulson's shot for the late tiebreaking goal, and Evgeni Nabokov stopped 32 shots as New York, 0-4-1 in its previous five away games, completed a 1-2-1 trip.

"It's always nice to come home and sleep in your own bed after a win," Moulson said.

Josh Bailey and Moulson also had goals for the Islanders, who won for the second time in six games.

New York (27-29-9), which entered with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, had dropped the previous two meetings - both in November - to the Bruins. They lost 6-2 in Boston and 6-0 at home.

But Nabokov bounced back from allowing five goals on 29 shots in a 6-3 loss at Philadelphia on Thursday with a strong outing.

"It all started in the back with Nabby," defenseman Andrew MacDonald said.

Tyler Seguin tied the game for Boston with his 22nd goal early in the third period. Milan Lucic also scored his 22nd, converting on a first-period power play.

The Bruins have dropped five of eight and hold a three-point lead over Ottawa atop the Northeast Division. Boston has played three fewer games.

Tim Thomas took the loss in relief of injured starter Tuukka Rask, who left the game with an undisclosed injury midway through the second period. Thomas stopped 11 of 13 shots after Rask gave up one goal on 12 shots.

Rask got hurt when he kicked out his left pad to try to stop a shot that went wide. He dropped to the ice in pain and was helped off by two players holding his arms as he skated off the ice. Thomas was already expected to start Sunday when the Bruins visit the New York Rangers.

Boston coach Claude Julien said Rask wouldn't make the trip, but elaborated little on the injury.

"It is what it is," he said. "You want to be able to use two goaltenders in this stretch, but it's not what it is."

The Bruins will play nine games in the next 16 days.

"It's obviously not great when you see him not able to get up after making an effort to make a save," Lucic said. "He's been a big part of our team this year."

After the game, the Bruins recalled goalie Michael Hutchinson and forward Lane MacDermid from Providence of the AHL.

The Islanders will play their next three games against New Jersey, beginning Sunday at home.

New York grabbed the late lead when Moulson fired a shot from the top of the right circle that was tipped by Tavares. The puck dipped and slid between Thomas' pads with 4:39 left.

The Bruins pulled Thomas for an extra skater with 1:20 to play, and Lucic had a good chance on a rebound during a scramble in the closing seconds.

"It sure looked like the bounces were definitely not on our side today," Lucic said. "For myself, it was a quick reaction. He got his paddle down, and I wasn't able to beat him."

Boston was held to two goals or fewer in eight of 13 games in February and was shut out five times. The Bruins rebounded with a 4-3 overtime win over New Jersey on Thursday - the first day of March - but were shut down again by the Islanders until Seguin tied the game at 2 at 7:29 of the third.

The Bruins had taken a 1-0 lead on Lucic's power-play goal 15:10 into the game before New York tied it on Bailey's score 2:26 later. Bailey got the rebound of Frans Nielsen's backhander and tucked the puck past Rask's right pad for his fourth goal in three games.

The Islanders made it 2-1 on Moulson's power-play goal against Thomas with 4:25 left in the second. Moulson, positioned at the top of the crease, netted his team-leading 28th when he slid a shot under Thomas just 28 seconds after defenseman Adam McQuaid was whistled for tripping.

Lucic scored when he lifted a shot over Nabokov from just outside the crease. Brian Rolston, acquired from the Islanders at the NHL trade deadline on Monday, set up the goal with a soft pass.