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Bruins withstand late charge, win seventh straight on road

Jan 16, 2009 - 5:11 AM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- Even a solid effort by the New York Islanders was not enough to derail Tim Thomas and the surging Boston Bruins.

Thomas stopped 40 shots and fellow All-Star Marc Savard and Martin St. Pierre scored as the Bruins extended their road winning streak to seven games Thursday with a 2-1 triumph over the Islanders.

The 34-year-old Thomas came within 54 seconds of his fourth shutout of the season. The goaltender turned aside 17 shots in the first period, 12 in the second and 11 in the third, allowing just former Bruin Bill Guerin's 14th goal of the campaign in the final minute of the session.

Boston coach Claude Julien believed his team was fortunate to escape with the win.

"I thought (the Islanders) were on their game," he said. "They had more control of the game than we did."

Yann Danis made 25 saves for New York, which has lost six in a row and eight of nine (1-7-1). The Islanders, whose last victory came on December 31 against Florida, have played well in their last two losses, however.

"It was a good game," Guerin said. "We played even with them or outplayed them. We played 60 minutes."

Following an emotional win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, the Bruins came out flat, registering just one shot on goal in the first 16 minutes. Boston was outshot, 17-7, in the first period and 29-15 over the first 40 minutes, but New York had few serious chances against Thomas.

Savard opened the scoring 3 1/2 minutes into the second period, when he skated out from behind the net and, left uncovered, put a shot over the shoulder of Danis for his 15th goal of the season.

"I had some room to come out from behind the net and I was just trying to get the shot on net," Savard said. "I want to shoot the puck more this year."

The Bruins gave Thomas a two-goal cushion at 6:51 of the third.

Vladimir Sobotka unleashed a slap shot from above the left faceoff circle that bounced off glass behind the net and caromed to St. Pierre, who backhanded it in from near the right goalpost for his second tally.

"It (stinks) when they get a bounce like that on the winning goal," Islanders rookie Josh Bailey said.

Thomas, who improved to 10-1-0 in his last 11 games, saw his shutout bid end when Guerin's backhander from below the end line on the right side ricocheted off the skate of Boston's David Krejci on the doorstep and into the net.

"We certainly can play a better game. They had some sneaky break-ins," Thomas said. "What happened tonight was, they were getting shots on net, but there were no rebounds or second chances. Our defense did the job, especially in key times - ones where I've had a hard time finding the puck or I'm out of position, they clear it out."

The Bruins, who lead the Eastern Conference with 70 points, have won four straight overall and 14 of their last 16.

Danis was starting place of franchise goalie Rick DiPietro, who is out with a knee injury, and backup Joey MacDonald, who will be sidelined two to four weeks with a groin injury suffered in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers.

But Danis' effort apparently did not impress Islanders coach Scott Gordon, especially since the team signed Wade Dubielewicz earlier Thursday.

"I'm not going to worry about Yann Danis," Gordon said. "It's just two games."

The Islanders, who have dropped four straight meetings with the Bruins, have scored just four goals in their last three games.