Need to Know: Bruins at Islanders

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - The Bruins will wrap up their season-opening three-game road trip on Monday afternoon with a tilt against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. Boston, coming off an overtime loss to the Devils, is focused on improving their offensive game, which has yet to produce an even strength goal through two games.
"First of all, we've only played two games. We have three out of four points," David Krejci said while preaching patience with the team's offensive struggles. "Obviously we'd like to score more goals, especially 5-on-5, and I'm confident we have good players here and that will come. We've got to work on some stuff in practices and in the game, it will come. I'm not really worried about that."

Video: Krejci speaks to media after Sunday practice

Kase Out, Studnicka In

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed on Monday morning that Ondrej Kase will not play against the Islanders after being forced to leave Saturday's game against New Jersey with an upper-body injury following a collision with Miles Wood. With Kase out, Jack Studnicka will slide back into the lineup and play the right side on a line with Nick Ritchie and David Krejci.
Jake DeBrusk will skate with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron on the B's top line, while Anders Bjork will be the third-line left wing alongside Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith.
Tuukka Rask gets the start between the pipes.

Opposing View

The Islanders split their opening two-game set with the New York Rangers. They are coming off a 5-0 setback on Saturday afternoon after shutting out the Blue Shirts, 4-0, in last Thursday's opener.
Isles captain Anders Lee has the team's early scoring lead after potting two goals on Opening Night, while blue liner Nick Leddy has registered two assists. The Islanders are also paced offensively by Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson - each with a goal apiece so far - as well as J.G. Pageau, who was acquired at last year's trade deadline.
In goal, the Islanders have Semyon Varlamov (shutout in the opener) and Ilya Sorokin (took the loss on Saturday). According to Islanders.com, Sorokin could get the start against the Bruins after Varlamov was injured during warmups on Saturday night.
"We know what's coming at us [defensively]," said Cassidy. "Hopefully we attack it well and get through the neutral zone. We have played well against the Islanders in the past, found ways to score. Not at ton, you're never gonna get a ton against them. That's the positive.
"We're not gonna get all our 5-on-5 goals in one night. We have to keep chipping away…specific to the Islanders, it's one where we're gonna have to earn every inch of ice. Our guys know that, they know the system. They should be prepared for it."

Wait, There's More

• The Bruins are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games against the Islanders. They have not lost against the Isles in regulation since Jan. 16, 2017. Boston has also won 10 straight road games against the Islanders. Over their last 17 meetings, the Bruins are 14-2-1 overall and in their last 21 road meetings are 18-2-1.
• Brandon Carlo will be playing in his 300th career NHL game, while Matt Grzelcyk will be suiting up for his 200th career game.

Monday's Projected Lineup

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Jake DeBrusk
Nick Ritchie - David Krejci - Jack Studnicka
Anders Bjork - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Trent Frederic - Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner
Jeremy Lauzon - Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
Jakub Zboril - Kevan Miller
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak