Tuukka Rask was pulled after the second period of Monday’s loss to the Islanders. But it wasn’t just because of the second-period softie he allowed to Josh Bailey.

The Bruins couldn’t risk Rask burning more matches or getting hurt in a meaningless third period before Wednesday’s game against Detroit.

The Bruins have issues, one of them being JV play from their backup goalies. So as much as the Bruins would like Zane McIntyre to spell Rask against the Red Wings, they require every point. And at this point, even a less-than-fresh Rask is a better alternative to McIntyre (0-3-1, 3.70 goals-against average, .868 save percentage).

“No. 1, you hope you can spark your team because of the performance in front of him,’’ coach Claude Julien said of hooking Rask. “If it doesn’t spark your team, you’re not wasting your No. 1 goaltender’s energy.’’

Bailey’s goal was unacceptable. The wing put a puck on net from an angle sharper than a hunk of cheddar. Rask couldn’t make up his mind on how to stop the puck — dropping into reverse VH to seal off the strong-side post, or staying on his skates. By the time Rask shuffled over to the post, the puck had slipped past his lead pad.

“I was just late,’’ Rask said. “I picked the wrong seal. One of those I should have stopped.’’

But Rask (12 saves on 15 shots) was not the reason the Bruins lost to the last-place Islanders. His teammates were far more culpable.

As poorly as Detroit is playing, Julien believes Rask gives the Bruins better odds then McIntyre at recording 2 points Wednesday. So even though a goalie change did not jolt the Bruins awake, it gave Rask a 20-minute breather. It was one of the few merits of Monday’s snoozer.

Both Millers out

The Bruins were without defensemen Kevan Miller (concussion) and Colin Miller (lower body). Joe Morrow played for the first time since Dec. 12 against Montreal. Morrow had been a healthy scratch for 16 straight games.

Kevan Miller is out indefinitely. Colin Miller is day to day.

Morrow has a history of playing well in his first game following a segment of inactivity. That was not the case Monday. Morrow had one shot in 16:27 of ice time while skating on the third pairing with John-Michael Liles.

Morrow was caught chasing Casey Cizikas on the Islanders’ third goal. Cizikas, who slipped behind Morrow, was turned back by Rask. But when Cizikas recovered the rebound, Morrow was caught in no-man’s land on the far post, unable to provide assistance in defending Nikolay Kulemin’s followup shot.

Line changes

Through 40 minutes, David Krejci had one shot on net. David Backes had none. It didn’t get much better in the third, which led to the two being split.

Backes finished the game with Brad ­Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. The right wing put his lone puck on Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss at 1:34 of the third period. Krejci ended the afternoon with David Pastrnak on his right flank.

“We weren’t emotionally involved from the beginning,’’ Krejci said. “When we are on our game, we’re going, we’re talking, making simple plays, passes. I didn’t see many of those early on.’’

Falling Star

Marchand was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week. The left wing had four goals and four assists in three games. Marchand had four shots on Greiss Monday but was on the ice for three of the Islanders’ four goals. He couldn’t handle the puck at the point on the power play in the third period, which led to ­Jason Chimera’s shorthanded breakaway . . . Ryan Spooner was the No. 3 center for the first two periods. In the third, he took shifts as the No. 2 left wing as the Bruins tried to jump-start their offense. Spooner had no shots in 15:15 of play . . . The Bruins went 0 for 2 on the power play. They had scored power-play goals in their three previous games. They have not scored man-up goals in four straight games this year . . . Jimmy Hayes was the lone healthy scratch. Hayes (2-1—3) hasn’t dressed for the last four games . . . Andrew Ladd and Cal Clutterbuck were not healthy enough to play for the Islanders. Shane Prince and Stephen Gionta played in their places. Gionta was on the receiving end of a wicked Torey Krug thump in the first period.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeFluto.