Romanov scored a goal in a 2-1 win over Boston on Thursday. Romanov came out of the penalty box and broke in 2-on-1 with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who fed the defender who beat Jeremy Swayman short side from the left circle.

The Rorschach test that is Islanders hockey offered on Thursday night the same sort of picture it’s been giving ahead of the trade deadline.

The New York Islanders used goals in each of the first two periods to break a four-game losing streak, beating the host Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night.

Ilya Sorokin stopped 38 shots and Alexander Romanov and Kyle Palmieri scored to lead the New York Islanders to a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins.

The Bruins have found new and grisly ways to lose hockey games this year. But on Thursday at the Garden, they lost the old fashioned way. They got goalied. Despite a wide edge in play, the B’s spotted the Islanders a 2-0 lead and only David Pastrnak could beat Ilya Sorokin (37 saves) midway through the third period as the B’s took their fifth straight loss (0-3-2).

New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov, like the rest of his teammates on Wednesday morning, listened as his head coach Patrick Roy went on an emotionally-driven rant at center ice during practice.

Barring any last-minute setbacks, Noah Dobson looks ready to come off long-term injured reserve and into the Islanders lineup against the Bruins.

BOSTON -- Ilya Sorokin made 38 saves, and the New York Islanders ended a season-long four-game losing streak with a 2-1 win against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Thursday. Alexander Romanov and Kyle Palmieri scored for the Islanders (26-25-7).

BOSTON — Ilya Sorokin stopped 38 shots and Alexander Romanov and Kyle Palmieri scored to lead the New York Islanders to a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. Boston’s lone goal ...

Ilya Sorokin stopped 38 shots and Alexander Romanov and Kyle Palmieri scored to lead the New York Islanders to a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. Boston's lone goal came from ...