Islanders Cough Up Lead Late, Fall in Shootout to Bruins
Game Recap
Nov 4, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson (71) plays the puck against New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
ELMONT, NY — Marat Khusnutdinov scored the tying goal in regulation and the winning goal in the third round of the shootout to lift the Boston Bruins to a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night at UBS Arena.
The Boston forward drew the Bruins level at three apiece with 4:54 remaining in regulation after picking up Fraser Minten’s rebound and carrying the puck on his backhand around a sprawled-out Ilya Sorokin.
The Islanders’ netminder made 23 saves while Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman made 27 stops and an additional three in the shootout on Simon Holmstrom, Bo Horvat, and Jonathan Drouin.
Turning Point
The loss snaps the Islanders’ (6-5-2) two-game win streak.
Regardless of the shootout miss, Horvat stayed red-hot, scoring twice in regulation, including the go-ahead tally 5:05 into the third period to give the Islanders a slim advantage down the stretch. Anthony Duclair provided the host’s opener early in the second period.
Player Performance
“He’s got a hot stick,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said of Horvat. “He has an ability to create a shot on his own, and he can rip it. Those were some big goals for us… When he’s rolling like that, that’s huge for our team.”
Duclair, who had not scored in his previous five games and did not have a shot on goal in his last two, put the Islanders up 5:11 into the second period when his spinning wrist shot from the left circle caught Swayman by surprise, whizzing over the netminder’s pads.
“We got some good opportunities,” Duclair said. “I thought our line did the best we could. I think communicating with [Casey Cizikas] and [Kyle MacLean] before games, just making sure our game is staying simple and making sure we’re hard on the forecheck. We want to be trustworthy.”
Physical Play
Mayhem broke loose midway through the frame when Nikita Zadorov got tangled up with Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer. The Bruins’ blue liner crosschecked Schaefer up high, sending him to the ice. While Schaefer held on to his stick, Zadorov gave him another shot up high to face, prompting Duclair and Anders Lee to jump the Boston defender.
“I felt like the referee had a lot of choices,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. “He could call cross-check, could have called roughing, could have called interference. Might’ve been able to have a four-minute power play, isn’t it? But I loved how the guys jumped in. The reaction of our guys, that’s what you’re looking for.”
Zadorov was assessed an interference penalty and a double-minor for roughing, though the Islanders failed to cash in on the two-minute power play.
Conclusion
The Islanders were unable to hold on to their lead, falling to the Bruins in a shootout. Despite the loss, the team showed promising signs, including Horvat’s continued hot streak and Duclair’s return to form. The team will look to bounce back from the tough loss and get back to their winning ways.
FAQs
What was the final score of the game?
The final score was 4-3 in favor of the Boston Bruins.
Who scored the winning goal in the shootout?
Marat Khusnutdinov scored the winning goal in the third round of the shootout.
How many saves did Ilya Sorokin make in the game?
Ilya Sorokin made 23 saves in the game.
What is the Islanders’ current record?
The Islanders’ current record is 6-5-2.
