Game Preview: Islanders vs. Bruins

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (5-4-3) VS. BOSTON BRUINS (10-1-2)
7 PM | NASSAU COLISEUM
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The New York Islanders look to extend their point streak to six games as they host the Boston Bruins in their second meeting of the season against their East Division opponents.
The Islanders and Bruins last met on Jan. 18 in the Islanders' home opener. The Islanders pulled out a 1-0 win in the stingy contest with the sole goal coming from Jean-Gabriel Pageau. That's the Bruins only regulation loss this season, as Boston boasts a 10-1-2 record and top place ranking in the division. Boston is also riding a 10-game point streak and a five-game win streak.

"They're just a deep team, they don't give you much five-on-five," Head Coach Barry Trotz said of the Bruins. "You've really got to work on your chances. To me, the biggest thing is that you can't give up easy goals against this team because you're not going to be able to get them back. Puck management and make sure that we know where [David Pastrnak] [is]. If we can keep that line [Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Pastrnak] off the scoreboard, then you have a chance. There was no space in that game. I think the scoring chances were pretty low on both sides. That's the way Boston plays. That's the way we're supposed to play."
The Islanders extended their point streak to six games (2-0-3) with their shootout loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday night. Casey Cizikas, Pageau (PPG) and Mathew Barzal scored for the Islanders, while Semyon Varlamov made 32 saves. The Islanders had a 3-2 lead with 18 seconds left in regulation, when Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin delivered the equalizer and Sidney Crosby scored the sole shootout goal.
Boston enters Saturday's game in the second leg of a back-to-back set after defeating the New York Rangers 1-0 on Friday night in a physical contest. There were a combined total of 54 hits between teams, including 23 from the Bruins. Nick Ritchie scored the sole goal and game-winner in the second period, while Jaroslav Halak backstopped the victory with his 21 saves to earn his first shutout of the season.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Cizikas goal was his second in as many games and his third of the season. The 29-year-old center now has four points (3G, 1A) in 12 games.
• Pageau scored his second goal of the season and his first on the power play. The center has five points (2G, 3A) through 12 games this season.
HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER
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Hockey Fights Cancer Night
Third Jersey Schedule
ISLANDERS VIDEO
Pregame: Barry Trotz
Pregame: Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Pregame: Andy Greene
HFC EXTRAS
Hockey Fights Cancer Song
Mystery Pucks
Stand Up 2 Cancer Card
• Barzal extended his individual point streak to seven games - where he has nine points (3G, 6A) in that span - with his highlight-reel breakaway goal. The 23-year-old center leads the Islanders scoring and assists with his 12 points and eight assists and his five goals are tied with Jordan Eberle for the most among the team. Barzal's seven-game point streak matches a career-high, previously set in November 2017.
• The Identity Line of Matt Martin, Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck scored in their third-straight game with Cizikas' goal. In the last three games, the trio has combined for nine points (4G, 5A), with two goals from Cizikas, and one goal each from Martin and Clutterbuck. Cizikas and Clutterbuck are riding a three-game point streak.
• Varlamov made his third-straight start and his ninth start of the season. The Russian netminder has a record of 5-2-2, a 1.98 GAA, a .929 SV% and three shutouts.
• Anthony Beauvillier will be a game-decision to face the Bruins. The 23-year-old winger has missed the last seven games with a lower-body injury he sustained against New Jersey on Jan .24. Beauvillier skated with the team at Friday's practice, but coach Trotz could not confirm definitively whether Beauvillier would be in or out of the lineup.
"That'll be a game-time decision," Trotz said following Friday's practice. "I couldn't tell you definitely [right now] if he's in or out [against Boston]."
• Pageau's power-play goal marked the Islanders fourth strike on the man advantage in the last six games. In total, the Islanders power-play has gone 8-for-41 (19.5%) this season for a ranking of 18th overall in the NHL.
• The Islanders continue to be one of the best faceoff teams in the league with a third-place ranking - behind Boston (57.5%) and Buffalo (55.9%) - with a FOW% of 54.
• Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello is sitting on 1,299 career NHL wins. With his next win, Lamoriello will become the third NHL GM to record 1,300 wins.
*Update: Beauvillier will not play against the Bruins on Saturday night and there could be one lineup change with the forwards.
"He will not be in tonight," Trotz confirmed following morning skate. "Potentially one [change], but probably status quo."

BOSTON NOTES:

• Ritchie scored his fifth goal of the season for the Bruins. The 25-year-old winger now has 10 points (5G, 5A) through 13 games this season. Ritchie tied with Bergeron for a game-high of six shots on goal.
• David Krejci recorded the primary assist on Ritchie's goal. The veteran center now has 10 points on his 10 assists through 13 games this season. In his last six games, Krejci has posted five assists.
• Jeremy Lauzon earned the primary assist on Ritchie's goal. Lauzon fought Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich towards the end of the second period and also received a misconduct penalty. The 23-year-old blueliner now has three assists through 13 games this season.
• With the win, Halak improved his record to 4-0-1 in his fifth start of the season. The Slovakian netminder has a 1.72 GAA and a .923 SV%.
• On special teams against the Rangers, the Bruins power play went 0-for-4 while their penalty kill posted a perfect 6-for-6 on the night. Across the NHL, Boston's power play is ranked seventh (28.6%) overall and their penalty kill has earned the top ranking with a kill percentage of 89.9%.
• At the faceoff circle, Boston won 54% against the Blueshirts with Bergeron leading the way with his 6-of-10 wins. In the NHL, Boston is atop the standings with a 57.3 FOW%.
• Boston's defense is the stingiest in the league allowing the fewest goals against at a nightly average of just 2.00. The Islanders aren't far behind and ranked fifth at 2.50.
• The Bruins outshot New York 30-21 on Friday night. In the NHL, the Bs are ranked fifth overall for shots for per game with an average of 31.8.
• Matt Grzelcyk missed Friday's game after sustaining a lower-body injury in Wednesday's 3-2 overtime win against the Rangers and is listed as day-to-day. Through six games this season, the blueliner has compiled three assists.
• In Grzelcyk's absence, Connor Clifton joined the lineup for his seventh game of the season and first game since Feb. 5. Paired with Brandon Carlo, Clifton logged 16:37 TOI, including 44 seconds on the power play and 3:41 on the PK, he threw two hits and had two blocks.
• David Pastrnak returned to the Bruins' lineup on Jan. 30 after missing the start of the year recovering from offseason hip surgery. Pastrnak has eight points (5G, 3A) in six games since returning. The 2019-20 Rocket Richard co-winner did not play in the Islanders and Bruins first meeting this season.
*Update: John Moore will make his season debut in place of Clifton as confirmed by Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy.