Islanders Ready for Game 1 vs Bruins

There may not be a right number for days off between playoff series, but in the New York Islanders recent experience, there are a few wrong ones.
Back in 2019, the Islanders had nine days off after sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins before facing off against the Carolina Hurricanes, who blew in two days after beating Washington in a Game 7. That was too much time off according to Head Coach Barry Trotz, who remarked the Islanders lost a bit of a their fine motor skills during the break.

"We played very well when we came back to play in that series against Carolina," Trotz said on Saturday. "The first two games we played very well. What we lost is a little bit of our finish, the fine motor skills that happen."
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Last playoffs, the Islanders had the opposite problem, winning Game 7 against Philadelphia on a Saturday, flying across Canada on their "off" day and playing the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night, visibly tired in an 8-2 loss, their only lopsided defeat in the playoffs.
If nine days is too long and one travel day is too short, perhaps having two off days - one to rest and one to practice - to prepare for the Boston Bruins is closer to the ideal, if one exists.
"There's not too much time to think, you just get back on the horse and right back at it," Mathew Barzal said after Friday's practice. "The whole year has been like this with games every second day, so we're used to it."

The Bruins had five days off after beating Washington, which Trotz doesn't think will be long enough for rust to form. The Islanders' coach expects the Bruins to be rested and revved up for Game 1 on Saturday.
"With a five day break, I think they took two days off and then they were right back at it, so I don't see any rust," Trotz said. "I think they'll be refreshed, they'll be energized by a building that is almost full and this is a very passionate fanbase, so it'll probably be a very hostile environment, so that will have to be used to that just like it is on the Island."
Boston announced a nearly-full capacity for Game 1, which will mark the biggest crowd the Islanders have played in front of since the COVID pause. While the Islanders got a jolt from a rowdy Nassau Coliseum vs the Pittsburgh Penguins, they don't mind walking into enemy territory looking to silence a crowd.
"I get excited for it," Casey Cizikas said after the team's optional, but well-attended, morning skate. "As a hockey player, going into another team's building, the crowd is roaring and going and it gets you amped up as well, so it's fun to play in another team's building and feed off that energy."

The Bruins were 18-7-3 at home this season and are 2-0 in the playoffs. The Islanders were 1-2-1 at TD Garden this season. The Isles are 2-1 overall on the road in the playoffs, winning twice in Pittsburgh after going 0-4-0 during the regular season.
The big challenge for the Islanders on Saturday - and throughout the series - will be containing the Bruins' top two lines, especially the Perfection Line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. The line combined for 13 points (8G, 5A) in five games against the Capitals and is a mix of hockey IQ, physicality and skill.
"That top line can do a little bit of everything," Scott Mayfield said on Friday. "For me, the biggest thing is they're never out of a play, so I'm never out of a play. You can't take a second off, even if you think things are calm down and looking okay I know they put one in with a couple seconds in a period on us in the first, so you're never out of a play and you have to make sure if they're on the ice you're watching them the whole time."

The second line of Taylor Hall, David Krejci and Craig Smith has turned the Bruins offense into a double-barrel shotgun, so the Islanders will need to play the second line hard as well, which combined for 45 points in 16 games after acquiring Hall.
"Since they got Taylor Hall, it really put everyone on the right seat on the bus for their team," Trotz said. "It's given them a first line and a second line that's a threat and can be a game-changer at times."
For the Islanders, the plan will be to just get to their game first, stay on top of the Bruins' top two lines and play physical. The series expects to a tight one from the drop of the puck, but the Islanders are up for the challenge.