UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Bruins entered Thursday’s play ranked second in the NHL in goals allowed. The Islanders hadn’t scored more than four goals in any of their first 18 games.
Naturally, the Isles improved to 3-0 against the Bruins this season by erupting for five goals in the third period of a 7-2 victory.
Anthony Beauvillier broke a 2-2 deadlock and sparked the third-period assault. Mat Barzal and Anders Lee each finished with a goal and an assist as the Islanders improved to 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— Frank Vatrano scored the go-ahead goal with 3:10 remaining to complete the Panthers’ late comeback in a 3-2 win over the Stars. Aleksander Barkov and Anton Stralman also scored in the final 6 1/2 minutes as Florida overcame a 2-0 deficit to stay atop the Central Division.
— Curtis McElhinney turned back 31 shots and picked up an assist to lead the Lightning past the Hurricanes, 3-1. Mikhail Sergachev, Yanni Gourde and Barclay Goodrow all scored for Tampa Bay, which won three of the four straight meetings between the teams.
— Tom Wilson scored the go-ahead goal on a power play with 7:20 left before the Capitals finished off a 5-2 win over the Penguins. Nicklas Backstrom scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season, and T.J. Oshie added a highlight-reel goal to help Washington beat Pittsburgh for the second time in six meetings this season.
— Patrick Kane’s 399th career goal broke a scoreless tie with 11:15 left in the Blackhawks’ 2-0 shutout of the Blue Jackets. Carl Soderberg added an empty-netter and Malcolm Subban made 26 saves in his first shutout of the season.
— New Jersey’s three-game skid is over after Pavel Zacha converted Jesper Bratt’s drop pass to score 1:17 into overtime to close out a 4-3 victory over the Sabres. Bratt also scored for the Devils, while Zacha had two assists to extend his point streak to eight games.
— Sam Gagner ended a 17-game goal drought by registering a hat trick that was the difference in the Red Wings’ 5-2 verdict over the Predators. Luke Glendening and Adam Erne also scored for Detroit, which took the lead on Gagner’s goal midway through the third period.
— Mike Smith handled 32 shots for his second shutout of the season and 41st overall, backstopping the Oilers’ 3-0 decision over the Canucks. Alex Chiasson and Jesse Puljujarvi had power-play goals to help Edmonton win their fifth straight and improve to 14-8-0.
— Kyle Connor scored twice and the Jets spoiled Dominique Ducharme’s debut as Montreal’s coach by defeating the Canadiens, 6-3. Nate Thompson scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and Blake Wheeler had a goal and two assists as Winnipeg handed Montreal its fourth straight loss.
— Colin White scored twice to back Matt Murray’s 29-save performance in the Senators’ third win in a row, 6-1 against the Flames. Drake Batherson, Erik Gudbranson, Connor Brown and Erik Brannstrom also scored for Ottawa, with Batherson running his goal streak to four games.
