BOSTON — Matthew Barzal scored in regulation and the shootout as the New York Islanders beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Thursday night.
In the shootout, Jordan Eberle and Barzal scored for the Islanders, while David Pastrnak scored for the Bruins. Brad Marchand’s attempt to extend the shootout was stymied by Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov.
Varlamov had 27 saves as New York snapped a seven-game losing streak to Boston.
The Islanders have won four of five.
Anders Bjork and Torey Krug scored for Boston. The Bruins are winless in four straight at home and seven of eight overall.
Devon Toews had a chance to end it for the Islanders in the closing seconds of overtime, but he lost control of the puck on a breakaway as he approached Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask.
Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk scored for the first time in 21 games, tying the score at 1 when he beat a screened Rask with a shot from the blue line at 3:26 of the second.
Krug capitalized on a two-man advantage and tied the game at 2 with 12:36 remaining in the third period.
Varlamov made a highlight-reel save with 3:33 remaining in the second period. He dove across the crease and robbed Anders Bjork, who hung his head in disbelief.
Rask stopped 19 shots and has dropped five straight.
NOTES: Boston defenseman John Moore was scratched in favor of Connor Clifton. Boston is 1-5 since Moore returned to the lineup. … Varlamov has won four straight. … Charlie Coyle assisted on Bjork’s goal. It was his first point in eight games. … Boychuk played for the Bruins for six seasons and left after the 2013-14 season. … Boston rookie winger Zach Senyshyn, who missed 17 games because of a lower-body injury sustained on Nov. 12 against the Panthers, practiced Wednesday and was then assigned to Providence of the American Hockey League. Senyshyn, a first-round draft pick (No. 15 overall, 2015) in his third pro season, impressed in a four-game recall before getting hurt. “It was too bad when he got hurt, because I thought he was gaining a little confidence, and we were starting to see what we had,” Bruins Coach Bruce Cassidy said. “So he has to start over a little bit, but hopefully he picks up where he left off.”
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