Game Preview: Islanders at Bruins

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (16-9-3) AT BOSTON BRUINS (13-9-4)
7 P.M. TD GARDEN - BOSTON, MA.
TV: MSG+2, MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7FM, 103.9FM, AM970
GAME NOTES - MORNING SKATE UPDATES
A lot of eyes will be on the New York Islanders penalty kill Saturday night as the team wraps up a four-game road trip against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden (7 p.m., MSG+, MSG GO).
The Islanders shorthanded unit has allowed a goal in six straight games (11-for-21) and two goals in each of the last four. The team held a 45-minute PK meeting and dedicated their practice to working on their shorthanded play.

"You need some freshness, you need to focus on it and not ignore it. We went to work, watched some video and we'll try to be better," Weight said.
The Islanders currently own the 30th-ranked penalty kill (73.3%).
The Islanders are 1-1-1 on their current road trip and will conclude it with their first meeting against the Bruins this season. The Isles have won five of their last seven games at TD Garden in a matchup that's favored the road team of late.

LINEUP NOTES:

Johnny Boychuk will miss his second straight game. Dennis Seidenberg draws in for Scott Mayfield and Jaroslav Halak will start in goal.
Weight said he has one question mark at forward.
ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINES:

BY THE NUMBERS:

12 - goals in 18 games for Jordan Eberle. Eberle is tied for the league lead in goals since Oct. 28. Mathew Barzal has assisted on eight of Eberle's 12 goals this season.
4 - game assist streak for Nick Leddy.Leddy has 24 points (6G, 18A) in 28 games this season.

THE OPPOSITION:

Last game:6-1 W vs Arizona
Scoring Leaders: Points: David Pastrnak - 25
Goals: David Pastrnak - 14
Assists:Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron - 12
Power Play: 19.04% - 17th
Penalty Kill: 84.81% - 3rd
The Bruins have won three of their last four games entering Saturday's contest, most recently beating the Arizona Coyotes 6-1. They're 5-2-0 in their last seven games and 7-3-0 in their last 10, so they're picking up steam after a 6-6-4 start to the season.
The Bruins have one of the league's top penalty kills and while their power play is in the middle of the pack this season, they've converted in two straight games (2-for-7 over that span) and will be a test for the Islanders struggling penalty kill.
Behind Pastrnak, the Bruins are getting steady production from Brad Marchand (10G, 12A) and Patrice Bergeron (5G, 12A).
Long Beach native Charlie McAvoy will play a regular season game against the Islanders for the first time in his career on Saturday. McAvoy was a first-round pick (14th overall) of the Bruins in 2016. The defenseman spent the past two seasons at Boston University, making his NHL debut in last year's playoffs. The South Shore product has 15 points (4G, 11A) in his rookie year with the Bruins.
Player to watch: David Pastrnak

David Pastrnak leads the Bruins in goals (14) and points (25) this season, as the 21-year-old winger continues to thrive in his fourth NHL season. Pastrnak currently has the longest active point streak in the NHL at seven games (4G, 4A) and the Bruins are 5-2-0 during Pastrnak's seven-game run.
BRUINS PROJECTED LINES:
| FORWARDS | | --- | | LEFT WING | CENTER | RIGHT WING | | BRAD MARCHAND | PATRICE BERGERON | DAVID PASTRNAK | | JAKE DEBRUSK | DAVID KREJCI | ANDERS BJORK | | DANTON HEINEN | RILEY NASH | DAVID BACKES | | TIM SCHALLER | SEAN KURALY | NOEL ACCIARI |

| DEFENSE | | --- | | ZDENO CHARA | CHARLIE MCAVOY | | TOREY KRUG | BRANDON CARLO | | MATT GRZELCYK | KEVAN MILLER |