Need to Know: Bruins vs. Islanders | Game 1

BOSTON - The Bruins will open up the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday night when they host the New York Islanders in Game 1 at TD Garden. And for the first time since March 2020, the B's will play before a full house on Causeway Street.
"We're excited," said Brad Marchand. "Been a little envious watching the other games and seeing how many people have been in the arenas. Really looking forward to that. Can't wait to see that and how loud it's gonna be and how excited the fans are gonna be. Definitely gonna have a huge adrenaline rush off of that.
"That's such a big part of playoffs is having that atmosphere in the arenas and how hard it is when you go into certain buildings. Definitely missed that in the first round. Really looking forward to that this round."
Here's everything else you need to know ahead of the 8 p.m. puck drop on NBC and 98.5 The Sports Hub:

Lauzon to Return

After missing the final four games of the first round against Washington, Jeremy Lauzon will be back in the lineup for Game 1 against the Islanders. The blue liner will play alongside Connor Clifton on Boston's third pairing.
"He's been through it a few times now," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said when asked about Lauzon having struggled in the past when returning from injury. "The message is always to stay within yourself. When he's healthy, that's when he plays his best when he's just hard to play against, physical, getting in people's faces, just playing hard hockey, good on the kill with his shot blocking and clears. Try to execute a good first pass, try to make the right decision, which is always a challenge for young defensemen. Reading the forecheck well, moving the puck tape to tape.
"That's always the challenge for him when he's been out is just getting up to speed with his puck play...at the end of the day, when he's out there, he's got to play his game and hopefully he recognizes when to do a little bit more when it's there versus just moving it and defending well."
Kevan Miller remains out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury after leaving Game 4 against the Capitals following a heavy and high hit from Dmitry Orlov.

Rust vs. Rest

The Bruins have not played since Sunday night in Washington, giving them a six-day reprieve, by far their longest break since the five-day COVID pause in March. But Cassidy does not believe the layoff will prove to be much of a detriment to the group.
"I imagine there will be a little bit," Cassidy said of the B's being rusty. "They've played more recently in a high-intensity game so there may be a bit of an advantage. I just think the rest for any team is good in the long run if you have aspirations of making a long run, these days will come in handy whether it's this series or the next series.
"For us, I don't expect a lot. We did play last Sunday. We played five games in nine days so a little bit of rest. It hasn't been that long. We did take a couple of days off in between to heal up. Guys were on the ice practicing. I thought we had good practices.
"But again, you can't replicate game situations. For us, it's about finding our game in the first period."

Opposing View

The Islanders will ice a similar lineup to Game 6 against Pittsburgh, per coach Barry Trotz. Forward Oliver Wahlstrom will remain out and is considered day-to-day.
SERIES PREVIEW: Bruins and Islanders to face off in postseason for first time since 1983.

By the Numbers

• The Bruins have a 56-50 record all-time in Game 1s of best-of-seven series with a 40-19 record when those games have been played on home ice.
• David Krejci's next game will be his 151st playoff contest, breaking a tie with Zdeno Chara into sole possession of second place on the team's all-time playoff games list.
• Patrice Bergeron's next goal will be his 46th playoff goal, tying him with Phil Esposito for second place on the team's all-time playoff goals list.
• Brad Marchand is two points shy of his 100th NHL playoff point.
• Bruce Cassidy is one win shy of tying Art Ross (32) for second on the team's all-time coaching playoff wins list. Claude Julien is first with 57 postseason victories.

Saturday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - David Krejci - Craig Smith
Nick Ritchie - Charlie Coyle - Jake DeBrusk
Sean Kuraly - Curtis Lazar - Chris Wagner
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly - Brandon Carlo
Jeremy Lauzon - Connor Clifton
GOALIES
Tuukka Rask
Jeremy Swayman