Tim Thomas stopped 25 shots and Glen Metropolit scored the winner to lift the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday afternoon.

The Bruins now head out on a tough stretch the next 2 1/2 weeks, playing nine of its next 10 away from home, beginning tomorrow night with a rematch against the Islanders on the road.

“We have to get on a roll,” Thomas said after todays win.

Not lost from todays win, was veteran forward PJ Axelsson playing the role of “i’ll pretend I didnt see that” so I dont have to show up physically today.  With teamate Marc Savard chasing the puck down in the offensive zone along the boards in the 2nd period, Isles defenseman Radek Martinek hammered Savard from behind into the boards throwing Savard to the ice.  Sound familiar?   Yes, similar to what happened to Patrice Bergeron a month ago.  Axelsson, standing directly behind the play, simply put his head down after the play and froze, not making any move towards Martinek after the whistle. 

You would think after recently losing one of their top players to a similar hit, the Bruins would have responded here?  Not the case at all.  Very disapointing - but the Bruins were lucky that Savard escaped injury as he was positioned safely to take the blow.

B’s Bitz

Milan Lucic went to the bench in the 1st after taking a hit from Islanders defenseman Bryan Berard. He skated only one more shift, before Coach Claude Julien kept out to be “evaluated for a head injury.”