Game 6: Islanders vs Bruins

GAME 6: ISLANDERS VS BRUINS
7:30 PM | NASSAU COLISEUM
ISLANDERS LEAD SERIES 3-2
WATCH: NBCSN | NHL.TV | CBC | SN | TVA SPORTS
LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | 98.7FM
As a result of a resilient effort to earn a 5-4 character win in Game 5 and take a 3-2 series lead, the New York Islanders have the chance to clinch on home ice in Game 6 as they host the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum.
While the Game 5 win wasn't the Islanders' best game, as they had to ward off a furious start and fend off a fierce finish from the Bruins, the effort showcased the team's grit to get the job done when it matters.

"We found a way to win, which is good on the group," Islanders Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "We were resilient. We had big moments where we had to capitalize and get momentum back, we were able to do that and get timely saves."

FINDING A WAY

Finding a way to win has been a theme for the Islanders all season long and has carried over to the playoffs.
The Islanders rebounded after going down just 1:25 into the game, as Mathew Barzal kicked off what was a 3-for-4 execution on the power play with second-period power-play goals from Kyle Palmieri and Jordan Eberle. Josh Bailey also scored in the middle frame and Brock Nelson netted the game-winner in the third period, both at even-strength.
Additionally, a 40-save performance from Semyon Varlamov largely contributed to the Islanders' pesky win as the team was outshot 44-19, including 18-3 in the third period, where Boston scored twice to make it a one-goal game in the final 5-4 score.
It wasn't pretty at times, but in the end as the Islanders vied off the Bruins' desperation.
"[The Bruins] came with everything, they threw the kitchen sink," Trotz said. "We knew it was going to be that way and we were able to survive it and find a way to win it. That's the playoffs. It's not always the way you draw the game out when you have a game plan, it doesn't go the way you want it and you just have to regroup."

GRITTY GOALS

With heightened intensity and the increased magnitude of costly mistakes in a seven-game series, goals are hard to come by in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as are time and space. So getting to the net, creating traffic and battling for an 'ugly goal' is crucial this time of year.
The Islanders are benefiting from Palmieri's offensive emergence in the postseason and his willingness to viciously contend around the crease for opportunities. His hard work has paid off as the winger now leads the Islanders in goals with six, most of which have come from Anders Lee's known office around the net front.
ISLES VS BRUINS GM 6
ISLANDERS ARTICLES
Five Takeaways: Isles Take Series Lead
Islanders Resilience Keying Playoff Success
ISLANDERS VIDEO
Video: Trotz Pregame
Video: Nelson Pregame
Video: Greene Pregame
Game 5 Highlights
GAME EXTRAS
Talkin' Isles
Arena Safety FAQ
"He's getting into those greasy, dirty areas which we saw and we knew he could, and he is," Trotz said of Palmieri. "He's getting rewarded for it. For us, we don't score easy usually. Having Anders Lee and even [Oliver] Wahlstrom, who's more of a natural goal-scorer, having those two guys out, [Palmieri] has done a really good job filling in and filling out really both of those roles."
With his power-play goal in Game 5, Palmieri now has a four-game point streak in this series with five points (3G, 2A) in that stretch.

'LEAVE BEST GAME OUT THERE'

The clinching game in any series is always the toughest, so the Islanders are expecting the Bruins to bring their best effort on Wednesday and know they have to bring theirs.
In the previous 13 series, the Islanders are 12-1 with a 3-2 series lead and are 11-2 in Game 6's when holding a series lead, only having lost to Toronto in 1978 and Philadelphia last season in the second round.
"Any team that has experience knows how hard it is to get that fourth game and you've got to bring in that desperation too," Trotz said. "We'll be desperate tomorrow, they'll be desperate. To get the fourth one is always the toughest. I think the guys understand that they've got to leave the best game out there. And if we leave our best game out there, hopefully we get the result tomorrow. If we do, we advance and if we don't we go to Game 7 and we'll have to have our best game there in Boston. I think the guys understand that. I don't think there is any magic to it, it's just understanding the reality of how hard it is to finish out."

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• With a power-play goal, Barzal improved his goal streak to three games and his point streak to four games with six points (3G, 3A) during that span.
• Varlamov made his fourth-straight start of the series and improved his record to 3-3 in the playoffs.
• The Islanders have allowed the first goal in four of the first five games, but they haven't allowed it to faze them. The Islanders have have won five games in come-from-behind fashion for the first time since 1993.
• The Islanders scored three power-play goals in a playoff game for the first time since April 23, 2002, when they scored four times against Toronto in Game 3.

BRUINS NOTES:

*Update: per Cassidy, Tuukka Rask will start in net making his sixth start of the series. With Lazar out for Game 6, Jake DeBrusk will return to the lineup after being health scratched in Game 5. DeBrusk will skate alongside Charlie Coyle and Karson Kuhlman.
• Tuukka Rask made his fifth start of the series in goal, but did not play in the third period. Through 40 minutes of action, the veteran Finn made 12 saves on 16 shots.
• Jeremy Swayman replaced Rask for the final period and made two saves on three shots. He relinquished the game-winning goal to Brock Nelson and was dealt a loss.
• Pastrnak scored two goals in Game 5 including one on the power play. The winger leads the team in scoring with 14 points and seven goals through 10 games.
• Curtis Lazar did not return for the third period after suffering a lower-body injury. Boston Head Coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed during his media availability on Tuesday that Lazar will not play in Game 6.
• Cassidy also confirmed that defensemen Brandon Carlo, who was hurt in the third period of Game 3, and Kevan Miller, who has been out since suffering an injury in Game 4 vs Washington, will not play in Game 6.
• Nick Ritchie was fined $5,000 by the NHL for elbowing Scott Mayfield in Game 5.
• Cassidy was fined $25,000 by the NHL for 'Public comments critical of the officiating following Game 5.'