5 Takeaways: Isles Earn Split After 4-3 OT Win in Game 2

Series tied.
The New York Islanders earned a split in Boston after picking up an 4-3 OT win over the Bruins in Game 2, officially tying their best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
Casey Cizikas scored the OT winner at 14:48 of overtime, sprung on a breakaway by a Bruins turnover at the Islanders blueline. Cizikas, who was in the clear from center ice, made no mistake, snapping a shot high blocker side on Rask.

Cizikas' goal salvaged the game and a split for the Islanders, who gave up a 3-1 lead in the third period to go to OT. Josh Bailey, Kyle Palmieri and JG Pageau also scored for the Islanders, while Semyon Varlamov stopped 39 of 42. Charlie Coyle, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand scored for the Bruins, while Tuukka Rask stopped 35 of 39 in the loss.
Here are five takeaways after splitting up to Boston.

CIZIKAS SEALS IT IN OT:

Cizikas was likely not the chalk pick to play OT hero on Monday night, considering the Islanders energetic center hadn't scored a playoff goal since 2015.
That made it even more special when Cizikas stepped up and scored the OT winner.
"There's no one that has bigger character and is more loved than Casey," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "He gives you everything he's got shift-in and shift-out. He's a total team guy, a great teammate and all that. For him to score a big goal like that, when he came in our room exploded with guys hugging him and all that when he did the post-game interviews."
Cizikas made a heads up play on the game-winner, jumping on a loose puck after Jeremy Lauzon's pass hit Coyle's skate and going off to the races. The OT winner was the finishing touch on a solid game for Cizikas, who finished the night with a goal, five shots, six hits, two blocks and won 60% of his draws.
"It's been a real long time," Cizikas said. "You're just trying to do the right things in overtime, be in the right spots and I was lucky, the puck popped into the middle there and give me an opportunity there."

ISLES GET GRITTY GOALS:

In a tight-checking series, the Islanders knew that they'd need to get some greasy goals to keep pace with the Bruins.
That was the case on Monday, as the Islanders scored their second period goals in tight, including two in a 4:08 span to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 advantage.
Bailey tied the score 1-1 with a power-play goal at 6:52 of the second period, as his centering feed, but his pass deflected off Jeremy Lauzon's skate and past Rask. The goal was Bailey's fourth of the playoffs, which tied his previous playoff-high set in 2019.
Palmieri followed up at 11:00 to make it 2-1 Islanders, jamming in a Nick Leddy rebound off the end boards for his fourth of the postseason. Palmieri now has five playoff points in eight games, surpassing his four points in 17 regular season games with the Isles.
ISLES-BRUINS GAME 2
ISLANDERS ARTICLES
Gamecenter
Photo Gallery
ISLANDERS BRUINS VIDEO
Full Highlights
Bailey's PPG
Palmieri Jams in Goal
Pageau's PPG
Cizikas' OT GWG
Postgame: Bailey and Pageau
Postgame: Cizikas and Palmieri
Postgame: Trotz
KINGER'S CALLS
Bailey's PPG
Palmieri Jams in Goal
Pageau's PPG
Cizikas' OT GWG
Pageau put the Islanders ahead 3-1 with the Islanders second power-play goal of the period, depositing a nifty backhand feed from Anthony Beauvillier in the crease. Cizikas' goal was the outlier on Monday, but greasy ones count just as much and is how the Islanders are going to create offense in the series.
"It's part of our game plan," Pageau said. "Rask is a good goalie, so we need to bring traffic around him, put a lot of pucks on net, win some battles around the net and we were able to do that."

ISLES REGROUP AFTER GIVING UP THIRD PERIOD LEAD:

Despite having a 3-1 lead, and being one of the better closeout teams during the regular season, it was not smooth sailing for the Islanders in Game 2.
The Bruins pushed hard in the third, getting a pair of goals from the Perfection Line, which they'd been able to keep in relative check for the first 40 minutes.
Bergeron pulled the Bruins within one at 10:34, one-timing a Marchand feed past Varlamov from the slot after an extended shift in the Islanders' zone. Marchand tied the score 3-3 with a power-play goal at 15:06, capitalizing after the Islanders were whistled for too many men, snapping a far-side wrister through Scott Mayfield's legs and past Varlamov.
But the Islanders didn't let the Bruins comeback, or raucous atmosphere faze them. They regrouped heading into overtime and came out with a purpose, with Bailey nearly winning the game in the opening minutes, if not for Lauzon blocking an open net.
"We knew we needed to refocus," Bailey said. "They took advantage of some opportunities. At that point in you're in overtime and you have to refocus and I thought we did that. Happy to come away with the win, but it's only going to get tougher. Tonight was a hard fought game. Happy to get it but we'll get some rest and start getting ready for the next one."

VARLAMOV WINS IN RETURN TO CREASE:

Varlamov got the start in Game 2, marking his first action since Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Trotz said the decision to go back to Varlamov was based on his 5-1-0 record against the Bruins, as was his veteran experience in a big game and a hostile atmosphere.
The Islanders' goalie allowed the first shot he faced, as Coyle skated around Nick Leddy, cut across the net and outwaited Varlamov before tucking the puck around his outstretched pad at 2:38. Despite the early goal, Varlamov settled in just fine and was solid the rest of the way out. He took some punishment, as the Bruins were eager to crash the net, including a goalie interference call on Pastrnak.
Varlamov was at his best in OT, sliding over for a game-saving stop on Taylor Hall shortly before Cizikas' winner.
"[Varlamov's] a veteran, he's not scared of these moments, and he's been a rock for us all year," Trotz said. I mean, I hope he gets a ton of votes for Vezina, at least be a finalist. He's been one of our MVP's this year."

TOP LINE GENERATES CHANCES:

Trotz said he wanted more out of the Leo Komarov, Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle line and the Islanders trio responded by generating plenty of looks in Game 2.
Komarov had a pair of quality chances in regulation, tipping a shot on Rask early in the first and had a puck deflect off his skate on the doorstep with the game tied 1-1 midway in the second period. Komarov was also at the center of several post-whistle exchanges, looking to get under the Bruins skin, successfully drawing a penalty on Brandon Carlo in the second period.
Barzal and Eberle were hungry around the net as well, each generating four shots on Rask. Despite only Barzal picking up a point - an assist - Trotz felt like he had a quality night from a line the Islanders will need going forward.
"That line was really good tonight," Trotz said. "They had a hard time containing [Barzal]. That's what we need."

NEXT GAME:

The series shifts to Long Island for Game 3 on Thursday night. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.