5 Takeaways: Islanders Take 3-2 Series Lead With 5-4 Win

It may not always be pretty, but a win's a win. And that's all that matters in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The New York Islanders showed resilience to earn a 5-4 road win over the Boston Bruins on Monday night in a pivotal Game 5 and in doing so, are taking a 3-2 series lead with a chance to clinch on home ice in Game 6 on Wednesday night.
The Islanders benefitted from a 3-for-4 execution on the power play with goals from Mathew Barzal (1G, 1A), Kyle Palmieri and Jordan Eberle (1G, 1A), while Josh Bailey (1G, 1A) and Brock Nelson scored at even strength. Semyon Varlamov was big in the win as he made 40 saves through 44 shots.
David Pastrnak scored twice for the Bruins, including once on the power play, while Brad Marchand and David Krejci also scored. Tuukka Rask played two periods for Boston and made 12 saves on 16 shots. Jeremy Swayman occupied Boston's net for the final period and made two saves on three shots in the loss.

Despite loosening up on a 5-2 lead and having to battle against Boston's late push as it became a one-goal game late in the third period, the Islanders held on and are looking forward to their chance to seal the series on Wednesday.
"We just tried to stick to our game plan, maybe we got away from it a touch at times but the guys kept fighting," Bailey said. "The guys were paying the price, blocking shots and doing everything they could to get the win. Varlamov made big saves. It was close and they had a good push. We found a way to get it done and that's what matters most. We've earned ourselves a way at home."
Here are five takeaways from the Islanders' Game 5 win:

Video: Islanders defeat Bruins in Game 5, 5-4

SECOND-PERIOD STURDIES WIN

Despite Boston getting off to a quick 1-0 start just 1:25 into the game, the Islanders responded, showed resilience and held on. The first period was the lowest scoring of the game as the Islanders and Bruins skated to a 1-1 score.
After being tossed from his first faceoff of the game, the Bruins regained possession and Patrice Bergeron led the attack. On a quick passing sequence, Charlie McAvoy set up Pastrnak for the one timer from the left faceoff circle.
The Islanders rebounded late in the period as Barzal scored the Islanders first of three power-play goals of the night with 1:11 left before the intermission.
"We probably didn't deserve to have the game at 1-1, they came out pressing, they probably could have had three or four in the first period," Barzal said. "So just to get that tied 1-1, take a deep breath, recoup for the second [period]."

In the middle frame, the Islanders gained, lost, regained and padded their lead.
Palmieri provided the Islanders with their first lead of the game 4:49 into the period, with his power-play strike, finishing off a crisp feed from Bailey.
The Bruins 'Pefection Line' of Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak went to work and tied the score at twos 2:28 later. After Pastrnak struck the crossbar on a previous rush, the line forced an Islanders turnover in the neutral zone and countered, as Marchand dangled past Ryan Pulock and beat Varlamov across the crease at 7:27.
With a tie score, the Islanders weathered an abrasive push from Boston, who was rolling all four lines and generating. The Islanders responded - and thanked the noble effort from Varlamov who was under siege by the Bruins - with Bailey's goal at 14:30 from the slot, on a tic-tac-toe play set up by Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Beauvillier to make it 3-2.
Bailey's goal marked the first of three-straight from the Islanders. Eberle gave the team their third power-play conversion of the night at 16:38 on Chris Wagner's high-sticking penalty.
ISLES-BRUINS GAME 5
ISLANDERS ARTICLES
Gamecenter
Photo Gallery
Isles Keep Cool Under Fire
ISLANDERS BRUINS VIDEO
Full Highlights
Barzal Ties Score 1-1
Palmieri Nets PPG
Bailey Finishes Pageau Feed
Eberle PPG
Nelson Scores Wrister
Postgame: Barzal and Eberle
Postgame: Bailey and Beauvillier
Postgame: Trotz
KINGER'S CALLS
Barzal's Power-Play Goal
Palmieri's PPG
Cizikas ENG
Eberle's PPG
With a 4-2 lead, Eberle took a penalty at 18:50 to give Boston it's first power play. Fortunately, the Islanders killed it off to start the third period.

ISLANDERS BEND BUT DON'T BREAK

Being able to lock down a game in the third period while playing with a lead has become a fabric of the Islanders' identity. While the Islanders had success in doing so in Game 4, where they held Boston to just one shot on goal for the final 6:57 of the game and were leading 2-1 before adding to empty-net goals, they struggled in Game 5 as Boston made it a one-goal game and outshot the Islanders 18-3.
But despite bending, the Islanders didn't break and held on to gain the series lead.
"They're a veteran group, they rely on each other," Trotz said. "I think they stay pretty calm. There's times we're like a duck on water, the feet are moving like crazy. We're able to stabilize. This is a very good team...they played extremely hard, they threw a lot of pucks on net and did a lot of things that they're known for. We found a way in a tough environment to get that done. We had opportunities and we capitalized and were able to get a win."
After killing off Eberle's penalty, the Islanders took advantage of the goaltender change as Swayman manned Boston's nets for the final frame in place of Rask. On a quick rush, the Islanders improved their lead to 5-2 with their second even-strength goal of the night as Beauvillier fed Nelson, who was all alone, in the slot and beat Swayman with the eventual game-winner.

Boston didn't shy away from the three-goal deficit and attempted a comeback. The Bruins converted on their next power-play opportunity at 3:28 on Adam Pelech's hooking call. McAvoy set up Pastrnak for his second goal of the game, where he beat Varlamov with a rocket from the same spot he scored his opening goal from.
Krejci made it a one-goal game as he jammed in a puck past Varlamov on the doorstep at 14:43. In response, Trotz used his timeout to calm his team down. The Islanders responded as they held onto the puck and tried to chew down the clock.
"They were obviously pressing, we just wanted to take a deep breath," Barzal said." The time out was to take a deep breath, the crowd was going crazy, so it was kind of nice to just take a deep breath, relieve a bit of pressure."

POWER PLAY A GAME CHANGER

After going without a power-play goal in Games 3 and 4, the Islanders' power play was a game changer as it went 3-for-4.
"That's the way it goes sometimes," Bailey said. "It started off with Barzal making a heck of a shot and we just kind of rolled that into the next couple and got a couple of fortunate bounces. A couple of good plays out there. The power play needs to be on if you're going to have success in the postseason."
It also marked the first time that the Islanders had scored three times on the power play in a playoff game since April 23, 2002, as they did so against Toronto with four power-play goals.
Barzal ignited the power-play tear with his conversion with 1:11 on the clock for the period on Sean Kuraly's slashing penalty. Barzal collected Noah Dobson's feed, skated into the right circle and lifted his shot over Rask's glove.

Palmieri gave the Islanders their first lead of the game early in the second period. As Boston's penalty kill was nearing the final seconds of Matt Grzelcyk's cross checking penalty, Bailey sent a back-door feed - that deflected off of Bruins' d-man Connor Clifton's skate - and onto Palmieri's stick for the easy tap-in at 4:49.
After Bailey restored the Islanders' lead 3-2 with six minutes left in the second period, Eberle extended it to 4-2 with his power-play strike.
With Bruins forward Charlie Coyle without a stick on the PK, Barzal setup Eberle at the left faceoff circle. Eberle was patient before picking his shot and wiring a wrist-shot over Rask's glove at 16:38 in the second period.

VARLAMOV STANDS TALL

Varlamov made his fourth-straight start of the series and helped the Islanders reach their third win. His record improved to 3-3 in the playoffs.
The Islanders netminder had his work cut out for him especially with Boston's desperate pushes in the second period and late in the third. But the veteran stayed cool, calm and collected and came up with pivotal stops on some threatening looks from the Bruins who fired off 44 shots.
Varlamov put forth a strong effort in the second period when the game was tied 2-2 and the Bruins were feeding him with looks from all four lines and put up a 15-9 shot advantage. He was under seige in the third as Boston outshot the Islanders 18-3.

BARZAL HEATING UP

After not scoring a goal through the first eight games of the postseason, Barzal is heating up.
With his power-play goal on Monday night, he scored his third goal of the playoffs and third in as many games. Barzal also extended his point streak to four games with as many points (3G, 1A) during that span.

NEXT GAME:

The series shifts back to Long Island for Game 6 on Wednesday night where the Islanders have the chance to clinch the series on home ice - just as they did in the first round against Pittsburgh in Game 6. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Nassau Coliseum.