Coyle has 1st career hat trick, leads Bruins to 5-2 win over Islanders

BOSTON (AP) — Charlie Coyle had his first career hat trick — thanks to an empty-netter that David Pastrnak spoon-fed him — and Linus Ullmark made 27 saves in the Boston Bruins’ 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Thursday evening.

Coyle also assisted on a first-period goal for four points on the night to help the defending Presidents Trophy winners win for the 11th time in their first 13 games. They finished the night tied with Stanley Cup champion Vegas for the most points in the NHL, with 23.

Simon Holmstrom scored a short-handed goal for New York 10 seconds after the faceoff to open the power play, tying the game at 2–2 early in the third period. But Pastrnak gave the Bruins the lead with a wrist shot that squirted through the pads of Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin.

Coyle made it 4-2 midway through the third inning when he converted a cross pass from James van Riemsdyk into the net. It remained that way until the final two minutes, when the Islanders pulled Sorokin for an open skater.

The Bruins were able to clear the zone, with Pastrnak and Coyle running to the net in front of a single New York defender. Coyle advanced the ball to Pastrnak, who had an open shot from the right circle; instead he gave it back to Coyle for the tip.

Brock Nelson also scored and Sorokin stopped 30 shots for the Islanders. They’ve lost three in a row.

Trent Frederic also scored for Boston. The Bruins were without top defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who served the final game of a four-game suspension for a blow to the head on Florida’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

NEXT ONE

Islanders: Host Washington on Saturday night.

Bruins: Saturday night in Montreal.