Boston Bruins great Rick Middleton acknowledges the fans during a ceremony to retire his No. 16, before an NHL hockey game between the Bruins and the New York Islanders on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Boston Bruins great Rick Middleton acknowledges the fans during a ceremony to retire his No. 16, before an NHL hockey game between the Bruins and the New York Islanders on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Credit: ap — Elise Amendola

Boston — Rick Middleton raised his No. 16 to the TD Garden rafters Thursday night, nearly three decades after playing his final game with the Bruins.

Middleton, nicknamed “Nifty,” spent 12 seasons with the black and gold from 1976 to 1988, scoring 402 goals and totaling 898 points. The right wing ranks third in goals and fourth in points in Bruins history.

“I’ve had four months to think about it, and I hate repeating myself, but honestly, I believe it is the biggest honor that certainly a retired athlete can get in his career,” the 64-year-old Middleton said before the Bruins faced the New York Islanders.

The Bruins announced in July that Middleton’s number would be the 11th retired by the team, the first since longtime forward and current Bruins president Cam Neely’s No. 8 was hoisted to the rafters in 2004.

In all, 19 players have worn No. 16 for the Bruins — including center Derek Sanderson, in whose honor Middleton said he wore the number. Kaspars Daugavins was the last to wear it in 2013.

“In the last six or seven years, I’ve been seeing that it’s not out there; nobody’s wearing it,” Middleton said. “All of a sudden, it happened. In July, a phone call in July; I never thought it would ever happen that way, but I just have to thank Cam so much for doing it. … It culminated tonight.”

Middleton was joined by Neely, Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk and Terry O’Reilly — whose numbers have all been retired by the Bruins — along with former Bruins coach Don Cherry at center ice for the pregame ceremony.

A first-round draft pick of the Rangers in 1973, Middleton played his first two seasons in New York before being traded to the Bruins.

The three-time All-Star led the Bruins in goals for six consecutive seasons from 1978-84. He scored a career-high 51 times in the 1981-82 season, the same year he took home the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

Middleton holds the NHL record for most points in a playoff series, totaling 19 (five goals, 14 assists) in a 1982-83 second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.

Thursday’s Game

Bruins 2, Islanders 1 (ot)

Boston— Ryan Donato scored the decisive shootout goal in his NHL return, Tuukka Rask made 28 saves and Boston outlasted New York.

Donato, recalled Wednesday after a demotion to Providence of the AHL, tucked the winner past Islanders goalie Robin Lehner on the Bruins’ fourth attempt. Boston has earned at least one point in five of its past six games.

Brad Marchand scored in regulation for the Bruins, who ended up in their first shootout this season.

Anders Lee had a goal and Lehner made 35 saves for the Islanders, who lost their second straight game.

Lehner allowed just one goal in regulation after giving up three or more in four consecutive starts.

New York had a goal waved off with 3:47 to play in overtime after Anthony Beauvillier fell behind Rask in the crease before Mathew Barzal flipped the puck over the goaltender.

Lee, the Islanders’ captain, netted his eighth goal of the season with 7:43 left in the first period, poking a rebound through Rask’s pads after Scott Mayfield sent the puck on net from the right circle.

Lee’s goal came seconds after a delayed penalty drawn by Barzal.

Marchand tied it for Boston with 7:51 to play in the second following Nick Leddy’s high-sticking penalty. Marchand rocketed a one-timer from the right circle off a feed from David Pastrnak.

Blue Jackets 4, Wild 2

Columbus, Ohio — Riley Nash had a goal and an assist, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 shots and Columbus beat Minnesota.

Cam Atkinson and Artemi Panarin also scored to help the Blue Jackets move ahead of Washington for the Metropolitan Division lead.

Lightning 5, Sabres 4

Tampa, Fla. — Cedric Paquette broke a tie with 5:41 left and Tampa Bay ended the Sabres’ franchise-record-tying winning streak at 10 games.

Paquette beat Carter Hutton, who had won his previous eight starts, from then top of the left circle.

Senators 3, Rangers 0

Ottawa, Ontario — Craig Anderson stopped 27 shots for his first shutout of the season and 41st overall, leading Ottawa past New York.

Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist, and Drake Batherson and Magnus Paajarvi also scored.