Game Preview: Islanders at Bruins

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (12-9-2) AT BOSTON BRUINS (13-7-4)
8 PM | TD GARDEN
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GAME NOTES | MORNING SKATE UPDATES
After playing seven straight games in the Tri-State Area, the New York Islanders are back on the road to take on the Boston Bruins.
The Isles are looking to rebound from a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday night, capping a stretch of four games in six nights. Note that Thursday's start time is at 8 p.m., as the Bruins are retiring Rick Middleton's jersey before the game.

Video: Cizikas returns to the ice

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Casey Cizikas was activated off injured reserve on Wednesday and was deemed good to go by Head Coach Barry Trotz. Cizikas missed six games with a lower-body injury and skated with his regular line mates, Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin, at Wednesday's practice.
  "I'm excited just to be out there with the guys right now," Cizikas said. "We worked hard these past couple of weeks, our trainers did a great job of getting me ready and making sure I'm good to go."
  Cizikas has nine points (5G, 4A) in 16 games this season and boasts the best face-off winning percentage (56.6%) of the Isles four regular centermen.
  "He brings a lot of the intangibles and he drives a lot of stuff that you do day in and day out," Trotz said. "Everything from energy, to practice, he's a real good penalty killer and he can play against anybody. His motor is running all the time. You need that on a team and good to have him back."
  - Valtteri Filppula will play his 900th NHL game on Thursday. Filppula has 479 points (175G, 304A) in 899 games split between the Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers and the Isles. The 34-year-old Finn has 16 points (7G, 9A) in 23 games this season and is currently riding a three-game point streak (2G, 2A). Filppula has scored on the Islanders first shot in each of the past two games.
  - The Islanders power play is 0-for-11 over the past five games and was an area of focus at Wednesday's practice.
  - The Islanders went 0-3-0 vs the Bruins last season.

BRUINS NOTES:

• The Bruins are 3-1-1 in their last five games, most recently losing 4-2 to Toronto on Monday.
  - The Bruins are 8-2-0 at TD Garden.
  - David Pastrnak is tied for the NHL-lead with 19 goals.
  - The Bruins blue line has been hit hard by injuries of late, with Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy, Kevan Miller and Brandon Carlo all missing time due to injury. Carlo is a "possibility" to come back, per Eric Russo of the Bruins official site.
  - Ryan Donato was recalled from the Providence Bruins on Wednesday and is expected to play on Thursday.
  - Patrice Bergeron (rib, sternoclavicular) and Zdeno Chara (left MCL) will both miss Thursday's game.
  - Former Islander Jaroslav Halak is 8-3-2 with a 2.06 GAA, a .936SV% and two shutouts in his first season with the Bruins.
  
  Graphic courtesy of Islanders PR