Unlike their first meeting against the Islanders in October, the Bruins did not launch a torrid three-goal rally leading to a spirited overtime win. No, this time Boston received yet another message that this year is not last year, respect has to be earned not assumed and playoff positions are far from guaranteed.
 
With Matt Moulson netting a pair of goals and rookie star John Tavares adding a third-period tally, the Islanders skated away with a 4-1 win over the punchless Bruins on Monday night. (Recap here.)
 
The Islanders played a gritty, well-balanced road game to earn standings points in a fifth straight game. Far from a conference bottom-feeder, the upstart Islanders (8-6-7) could be one of the many teams that will be looking to knock the suddenly mediocre Bruins (8-8-4) from their lofty perch of last season.
 
Here are three lessons we can glean about the Bruins’ current state of affairs from their third straight loss.
 
THE POWER STILL IS OUT
 
The power play continues to be a real problem for the Bruins.

The B’s entered the game mired in a pathetic 3-for-30 stretch with a man advantage over the past 10 games. The pattern continued, as Boston failed to capitalize on five power-play chances against an Islanders penalty-killing unit that was in the bottom third (20th) of the league.

After being set up with a five-on-three power play for 1:35 late in the first, the Bruins failed to produce anything other than slap shots from Zdeno Chara and Dennis Wideman that failed to hit the net.

“It sucks,” said center David Krejci, echoing a sentiment shared by many in the crowd of 16,865 that booed the home team as it left the ice. “It’s the NHL; if you get a two-minute power play, five-on-three, you’ve got to score a goal.”

An early second-period man advantage was cut short by a cross-checking call on Mark Recchi. Presented with another Bruins power play minutes later, Blake Wheeler had a couple of whacks at the puck just outside the crease but could not move it past Islanders goalie Dwayne Roloson. Bruins coach Claude Julien was quick to express his frustration with the team’s lack of power-play success.

“Obviously, our best players are not at their best. When that happens you can’t expect results. That is that bottom line,” Julien said. “We are not moving the puck with any assertiveness. There isn’t the confidence or the determination right now that we need to be successful.”

A PROMISING CZECH-UP

Now one week removed from his bout with the H1N1 virus (swine flu), Krejci is back to displaying some of his usual trademark speed and puck savvy.

With the Bruins trailing 1-0 in the second, Krejci fended off a check and wheeled to the net. He lost the puck and it skittered across the crease to Daniel Paille, who slid it past Roloson just as Tavares was knocking the net off its moorings.

“Krejci brought it to the net, that’s something we have to do more,” Paille said. “I don’t know if he saw me, but he was trying to bring it there. I just snuck in and tapped it a couple of times.”

Two officials of the Czech Republic Olympic team attended Monday’s game to watch Krejci play. They will be evaluating NHL players for two weeks and were happy with the early results scouting Krejci for possible participation in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

“He’s playing well, so we’re impressed,” one team official said.

Krejci was not happy with his contributions and the team’s play.

“We had our chances, but for what? The result was the same,” Krejci said. “We have to bury them.”

Islander forward Richard Park may have also helped his case for the U.S. team, picking up assists on three New York goals.

JOHN TAVARES LOOKS LIKE THE REAL DEAL — ESPECIALLY AGAINST THE BRUINS

Tavares, the top overall pick in the 2009 draft, continues to show he is more than NHL-ready.

The 19-year-old notched a goal and an assist Monday, extending a five-game point streak during which he has generated four goals and five assists.

“He sees the ice real, real well,” Bruins defenseman Derek Morris said. “He’s got a good shot and made some great passes again tonight. But when we’re not sharp, guys like that will look a lot better.”

Tavares leads NHL rookies in scoring (9 goals, 11 assists). He has four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in two games against the Bruins this season.