Game Preview: Islanders vs Bruins

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (35-20-8) VS BOSTON BRUINS (40-13-12)
1 PM | NYCB LIVE | BUY TICKETS
BUTCH GORING JERSEY RETIREMENT
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The Isles picked up a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to St. Louis on Thursday night. Jean-Gabriel Pageau (power play) and Jordan Eberle scored in the first period while Thomas Greiss returned to the pipes and made 29 saves. Despite taking a 2-0 lead after the first period, the Blues rallied a for comeback and held the Isles to just five shots from the second period through overtime.

The Bruins picked up two points over Dallas on Thursday night with a 4-3 win. Charlie Coyle scored on the power play while Brad Marchand, Nick Ritchie and David Pastrnak also scored. Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves.

MORNING SKATE UPDATES:

• Head Coach Barry Trotz did not confirm whether or not Andy Greene will return to the lineup today against Boston, but said that he will be assessed prior to puck drop.
  - Boston forward Chris Wagner will not play against the Islanders this afternoon. Wagner sustained an upper-body injury against Dallas on Thursday night and is day-to-day.
  - Tuukka Rask will start in net for the Bruins. Rask has made 37 starts this season, has a record of 23-7-6, a 2.22 GAA (ranked third best in the NHL) and a .926 SV% (ranked fourth best in the NHL).
  Boston projected lineup:
  Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
  Ritchie - Krejci - Kase
  DeBrusk - Coyle - Kuhlman
  Kuraly - Lindholm - Nordstrom
  Chara - McAvoy
  Krug - Carlo
  Grzelcyk - Lauzon
  Rask
  Halak

ISLES NOTES:

• Pageau scored in his second-straight game and second game as an Islander on Thursday. The 27-year-old center continues to add to his new career-high in goals as he netted his 26th of the season. Pageau's fifth power-play goal was also a career-best. Through 62 games this season, Pageau has 42 points.
  - Pageau's power-play goal was the Isles third with a man advantage in the last four games. In the NHL, the Isles power play is ranked 22nd in the NHL with a conversion rate of 18.2%.
  BUTCH JERSEY RETIREMENT
  WRITTEN COVERAGE
  Fischler: The Butch Goring Trade
  Goring and Tonelli "Humbled"
  Tonelli Thankful for Jersey Retirement
  Fischler: Tonelli Appreciation
  MORE BUTCHIE

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Isles TV: Tonelli Jersey Retirement
CEREMONY DETAILS
Doors Open at 10:30 a.m.
Ceremony at 11:40 a.m.
- Eberle found the back of the net for the 15th time this season and scored his fifth goal in the last four games. The winger extended his point streak to five games (5G, 2A). Through 53 games this season, Eberle has 37 points.
- Anders Lee, Devon Toews and Mathew Barzal also extended their point streaks. Lee has seven points (2G, 5A) through his last four games. Toews extended his point streak to four games with one goal and three assists during that span. Barzal, who leads the Isles in points (54), registered two assists on the night and has had eight helpers through his last five games.
- Greiss made his first start since Feb. 13 and his 27th start of this season. The German goaltender made 29 saves on the 32 shots. Greiss has a record 16-8-3, a 2.65 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.
- Ross Johnston and Noah Dobson drew back into the lineup. Johnston returned to the lineup being a healthy scratch for four-straight games. Johnston logged 6:46, threw three hits and had one shot on net as he played alongside Otto Koivula and Leo Komarov. Dobson played for the first time in five games and played 9:41 and had one block.
- Andy Greene is day-to-day and has missed one game after leaving in the first period of Tuesday's game against the New York Rangers as a result of a collision along the boards.
- On Saturday, the Isles will honor alumni and four-time Stanley Cup champion Butch Goring as they retire his No. 91 into the rafters. The ceremony begins at 11:40 a.m.
- The Islanders (78 points) are currently holding onto the first wild card in the Eastern Conference. They are two points back of Pittsburgh Penguins (80) for third in the Metropolitan Division and two points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets (76) in the second wild card.

BRUINS NOTES:

• Coyle scored his first goal of the season on the power play and his 16th this year.
  - Marchand found the back of the net for the 26th time this season and extended his point streak to eight games (3G, 9A). The winger has goals in back-to-back games. Marchand leads the Bruins in assists with 55 through 65 games.
  - Ritchie, who was acquired from Anaheim by the Bruins at the trade deadline in exchange for Danton Heinen, scored his first goal in the Black and Gold. Through 43 games as a whole this season, the winger has 21 points (9G, 12A).
  - Pastrnak lit the lamp for the 46th time this season. The Czech winger leads the NHL in goals and second behind Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl in points with 90 through 65 games with the Bs.
  - Halak made his 28th start of the season and improved his record to 17-6-6. The former Islander netminder has a 2.44 GAA and a .917 SV%.
  - Tuukka Rask has a record of 23-7-6 and a 2.22 GAA (ranked third best in the NHL) and a .926 SV% (ranked fourth best in the NHL).
  - During the month of February, the Bruins are 10-3-0.
  - Forward and former Islander Chris Wagner left Thursday night's win over Dallas with an upper-body injury. The Bruins haven't yet determined if Wagner will play against the Islanders, but will give an update during Head Coach Bruce Cassidy's morning availability.
  - The Bruins power play the second-highest ranked in the NHL with a conversion of 25.4%. The Bs penalty kill is also ranked in the top-five in the league, with a kill percentage of 83.4 (fourth-best). Boston is also ranked in the top-10 for goals for with an average of 3.29 (seventh), shots with 32.1 (10th) and faceoff wins 51.1 (seventh).
  - The Bruins lead the NHL with 92 points and have a margin of six points. The Bruins have a record of 40-13-12.

ISLES VS. BRUINS:

The Isles have collected a point in both games against Boston this season as both games have required extra time. The Isles defeated the Bruins 3-2 after three rounds of a shootout on Dec. 19 at TD Garden. That was the last game Cal Clutterbuck was in the lineup for the Isles. The winger suffered a wrist laceration and has been sidelined since that game, but is on the road to recovery and nearing his return.
The Bruins won the rematch, taking a 3-2 decision in overtime on Jan. 11 at Barclays Center. Patrice Bergeron scored the OT winner. Mathew Barzal and Scott Mayfield scored for the Islanders.