Game Preview: Islanders vs. Bruins

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (7-12-5) VS. BOSTON BRUINS (14-9-2)
7:30 PM | UBS ARENA | BUY TICKETS
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The New York Islanders look to get back into the win column as they host the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at UBS Arena.

The Islanders enter the matchup coming off a 2-1 defeat against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. The Islanders showed resolve, as Anders Lee scored a 6-on-5 goal with just 2:33 left in regulation with the team down 2-0 late in the third period. Ilya Sorokin made 37 saves on 39 shots in the loss.
Boston enters Thursday's contest having dropped a 4-1 result to Vegas on Tuesday night. Patrice Bergeron scored the B's sole goal with 21 seconds left in the game while Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves on 25 shots in the loss.
The Islanders and Bruins last met in the Second Round of last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs where the Islanders eliminated Boston with a 4-2 series win. For the Islanders, Kyle Palmieri (4G, 2A), Mathew Barzal (3G, 3A) and Jean-Gabriel Pageau (2G, 4A) led the way as they all posted six-point performances in the postseason series.
During last year's division-only regular season slate, the Islanders and Bruins faced each other eight times in the East Division. The Islanders went 5-2-1 during those meetings and picked up four-straight wins on home ice.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• MORNING SKATE UPDATE:Austin Czarnik was recalled from the Bridgeport Islanders. Mathew Barzal placed on non-roster status due to COVID-19 protocol.
• Lee buried his eighth goal of the season and his fourth goal in as many games. The Islanders captain has eight goals through 19 games this season.
• Dobson assisted on Lee's goal and now has a three-game point streak with (2G, 1A) in that span. The 21-year-old blueliner also has three goals in his last four games after scoring only four times through his first 97-career NHL games. Dobson leads the Islanders' d-core in scoring with nine points (3G, 6A) through 22 games.
ISLES VS BRUINS
ISLANDERS ARTICLES
3 Takeaways: Islanders' Comeback Falls Short in 2-1 Loss to Detroit
Islanders Prospect Report: Dec. 13, 2021
Isles DTD: Barzal in Protocol
Isles Partner with Socios
ISLANDERS VIDEO
Trotz Pregame: Coming Soon
Player Pregame: Coming Soon
GAME EXTRAS
Talkin' Isles
Isles STM Reserve List
Get Ready for Game Day
Getting Here
Parking
• Mathew Barzal did not play against Detroit as he was placed in COVID-19 protocols on Tuesday morning ahead of the game. Barzal's absence was a blow to the Islanders' offense as the dynamic centerman had been riding a six-game point streak with nine points (1G, 8A) in that span. Barzal is atop the Islanders' leaderboard in points with his 17 points (5G, 12A) through 23 games. Per Trotz, Barzal is still in Detroit in quarantine per NHL protocols.
• Ilya Sorokin made his 18th start of the season while his record dropped to 7-7-4. The Islanders netminder has a 2.47 GAA, a .926 SV% and three shutouts.
• The Islanders power play was 0-for-1 against Detroit, which snapped a two-game stretch of converting on the man advantage. In the NHL, the Islanders' power play ranks 28th overall at 15.9%.
• The Islanders penalty kill went 2-for-3 against Detroit and ranks ninth overall in the league at 82.9%.
• The Islanders are 6-4-4 when scoring the first goal of the game and are 1-8-1 when allowing the opening goal.
• Anthony Beauvillier and Matt Martin returned to the lineup. Beauvillier had been healthy scratched on Saturday and in his return, he skated alongside Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. Martin had been sidelined since Dec. 4 as a healthy scratch and out of precaution for a 'nagging' injury, per Trotz. The veteran winger occupied his usual spot next to Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck.
• While not as strong as Boston when it comes to face-offs, the Islanders are still ranked in the top-10 in regard to FOW%. They currently are eighth in the NHL with a 52.0 FOW%. Pageau is the Islanders' best faceoff taker as he ranks 29th in the NHL with his 56.7 FOW%.

Video: DET 2 vs NYI 1: Barry Trotz

BRUINS NOTES:

• MORNING SKATE UPDATE: The Bruins placed Anton Blidh, Trent Frederic, and Jeremy Swayman in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol. Boston recalled goaltender Kyle Keyser from Providence and recalled forward Jesper Froden from Providence on an emergency basis.
• Bergeron is second on the Bruins in scoring with 10 goals and 23 points through 25 games. The Boston captain is riding a four-game point streak with five points (2G, 3A) during that stretch. Bergeron was placed in COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday morning.
• Brad Marchand and Craig Smith were also placed in COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday. Marchand leads the Bruins in goals (11), assists (16) and points (27). Smith has 7 points (2G, 5A) in 19 games this season. In their place, the Bruins recalled forwards Jack Studnicka and Oskar Steen from their AHL affiliate in Providence on an emergency basis.
• Taylor Hall recorded the sole assist on Bergeron's late goal. The winger now has 14 points (5G, 9A) through 25 games.
• Swayman made his 14th start of the season, while his record dropped to 7-5-2. Swayman boasts a 2.29 GAA and a .917 SV%.
• Boston's goalie tandem also includes netminder Linus Ullmark who has made 11 starts this season and has a 7-4-0 record. Ullmark has a 2.56 GAA and a .921 SV%.
• Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy returned to the bench after entering COVID-19 protocols on Nov. 29 and missing six games during that span.
• Boston boasts one of the top power plays in the NHL as they are ranked sixth at 24.7%. However, they went 0-for-1 against Vegas.
• In the face-off circle, Boston ranks third highest in The NHL with a FOW% of 54.5%. Bergeron is elite when it comes to winning draws where he currently sits second among all skaters in the league with his 63.1% FOW.
• In the offseason, the Bruins acquired defenseman Derek Forbort, forwards Nick Foligno, Erik Haula and Tomas Nosek and goaltender Linus Ullmark.