Islanders eliminate Boston Bruins move to Stanley Cup semi-finals

For the second year in a row, the New York Islanders will move onto the third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. With a strong 6-2 win on Wednesday, the Islanders eliminated the Bruins in six games.

This is the first time in 37 years that the Islandesr will be making the trip to the third round in back-to-back years. Oh, and for the second year straight, the Isles will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the semi-finals.

New York Islanders advance to the semi-finals. Again!

The Islanders absolutely dominated play at 5on5 against the Bruins even if the advanced numbers show it. But all six of the Islanders goals were scored at 5on5. The two Bruis goals were scored on the power play.

It’s certainly possible that the Islanders shut the Bruins out if not for the three tripping calls they picked up in the game (all of them were fair calls by the way).

And it was all thanks to ta clinical second period. You know the period where the Islanders have been absolutely dreadful all year. The Isles held a -4 goal differential in the second period during the season. Their goal differential in the first and third periods were +15 and +16.

In this series, the Islanders flipped that thanks in large part to the three goals they score in the second period today. Here’s how the Islanders goal differential looks like in six games against the Bruins:

• P1 GD: -2
• P2 GD: +8
• P3 GD: -1

Incredible. I’m not even sure how to act right now. This team just knows how to win.

Three Stars

Brock Nelson | 2G, 4SOG, +2.79GS: This was a man possessed today. Nelson was all in tonight and it showed. Not only because of his production, but the second-line center was a force out there.

Josh Bailey | 2A, 1 Hit, +2.79GS: Bailey just continues to do Bailey things. He now has 11 points in 12 playoff games this year.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau | 2A, +4, 2.48GS: With his two points today, Pageau steps up to 13 in the playoffs. Only David Pastrnak and Nikita Kucherov have more. Wild.