Second Round Series Preview: Islanders vs Bruins

Second round, third year in a row.
The New York Islanders advanced past the First Round for a third year in a row and will take on the Boston Bruins in Round Two.
This series pits the third-seeded Bruins against the fourth-seeded Islanders, who knocked off the top two teams in the East Division. Boston beat Washington in five games, while the Isles knocked off the division-leading Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

This marks the third time the Islanders and Bruins have met in the postseason. The Islanders beat the Bruins in five games in second round in 1980 and in six games in the third round in 1983, so it's been a while.
The Islanders are looking to get back to the conference final for a second straight season, while the Bruins, who are in the second round for a fourth-straight year are two years removed from a Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
Game 1 goes Saturday night, so NewYorkIslanders.com has a full preview to get you set.

SCHEDULE:

Game 1 goes on Saturday night at 8 p.m. on NBC. Game 2 goes Monday at 7:30 p.m. on NBCSN.

SEASON SERIES:

There are never any easy games between the Isles and Bruins, who played each other tight and physical all season long.
The Islanders went 5-2-1 in eight meetings against the Bruins this season, winning the first five before going winless in the final three. The Islanders won all four games on home ice this season, while going 1-2-1 up in Boston. Three of the Islanders wins came against Jaroslav Halak, while the Isles went 2-2-0 against Tuukka Rask.
JG Pageau led the Islanders with eight points (5G, 3A) in eight games vs the Bruins this season, while Mathew Barzal was second with seven (3G, 4A). Semyon Varlamov went 5-1-0 vs the Bs, while Ilya Sorokin was 0-1-1.
Brad Marchand (4G, 3A) and David Pastrnak (2G, 5A) co-led the Bruins with seven points apiece against the Islanders. David Krejci had a team-high six assists, while Taylor Hall had four goals in three games after being acquired.

KEYS TO THE SERIES:

Goaltending Matchup
Goaltending is the central tenet of almost every playoff series and both teams enter with quality and depth at the position.
Ilya Sorokin announced his presence with a spectacular First Round, going 4-0 with a 1.95 GAA and a .943 SV%. The rookie has looked completely unfazed by the big stage of the NHL playoffs, likely leaning on his pedigree and extensive experience in the KHL playoffs.
Sorokin didn't see a lot of the Bruins this season, going 0-1-1 in his two appearances against the Bruins, though one was a third period and overtime relief effort in the regular season finale after Semyon Varlamov left the game.
While Sorokin is extremely likely to start the series, the Islanders can also turn to Varlamov, who had a record-setting season for the Isles, going 19-11-4 with a 2.04 GAA, a .929 SV% and a league-leading seven shutouts. Varlamov also found success vs the Bruins, as he went 5-1-0 with a 1.93 GAA, a .943 SV% and a shutout vs Boston in the regular season, so the Islanders have confidence in whoever is between the pipes.
Across the ice, the Bruins are also capable in net. While Pittsburgh's crease lacked experience, Tuukka Rask is battle-tested in the postseason, with 98 games - and two trips to the Stanley Cup Final as a starter - on his resume, along with a 2.18 GAA and .927 SV%. Against the Washington Capitals, Rask was 4-1, with a 1.81 GAA and a .941 SV%.
Behind Rask is rookie Jeremy Swayman, who burst onto the scene at the end of the season during a swatch of injuries to the Bruins crease. The 22-year-old rookie went 7-3-0 with a 1.50 GAA, a .945 SV% and two shutouts in his 10 games, which included a 25-save shutout over the Isles on April 16. Swayman was named the top NCAA netminder in 2019-20 before breaking into the NHL this season.
Former Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak is also part of the Bruins depth, giving Boston a another veteran option. Halak's been solid in his three years in Boston, but is 0-1-2 vs the Islanders since joining the Bs.

Shutting Down Bruins Top Two Lines:
After facing off against a deep Penguins forward unit in the First Round, it doesn't get much easier for the Islanders in the second round.
The Bruins boast one of the best lines in hockey in Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, a.k.a The Perfection Line (more on them below). The addition of Taylor Hall at the trade deadline has bolstered the Bruins second line with David Krejci and Craig Smith.
In the 16 games since acquiring Hall on April 12, Krejci recorded 21 points (6G, 15A), Hall had 14 points (8G, 6A) and Smith had 10 (5G, 5A).
Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech will likely draw the Bergeron line as the team's top defensive pairing. The duo drew the assignment against Sidney Crosby's line and was able to relatively contain the Pens top unit, as Crosby and Jake Guentzel each finished the series with two points (1G, 1A), while Bryan Rust had three. The line had its looks, but the line only had one goal at five-on-five with Pelech and Pulock on the ice. They were also the Islanders most physical pair, with Pulock leading the team with 27 hits, while Pelech handed out 19.
Scott Mayfield also had an impactful series against the Penguins, leading Islanders defensemen with four points (1G, 3A) in six games. Mayfield got it done at both ends of the ice, leading Isles blueliners with 15 blocks, while constantly serving as a thorn in the side of Penguins stars. The defenseman threw a big hit on Crosby in Game 4, and was a fixture in post-whistle scrums. That physicality and agitation will be key against a heavy Bruins squad.
While Trotz relied more on his top two pairings in terms of ice time, the Islanders got contributions from the Andy Greene-Noah Dobson pairing. The veteran Greene blocked 10 shots in the series and averaged the third-most SH TOI/GP at 1:03, while Dobson dished a pair of assists and averaged 1:45 PP TOI/GP.
As a team, the Islanders held the high-flying Penguins to 2.67 goals per game, nearly a full goal below their 3.45 average during the season. That defensive play will be key to trying to contain the Bruins top two lines and trying to turn the series into a test of depth.
Establishing Leads:
One thing the Islanders didn't do a lot of vs Pittsburgh was lead in games, holding an advantage for 66:48 of the 402:21 minutes played. (Pittsburgh led for 177:22, while 158:11 of the series was tied.)
While Trotz praised the Islanders stick-with-it character throughout the series, playing from behind this often is playing with fire, especially against a stingy Bruins team that can lock it down. Boston was 25-6-3 when scoring first this season, 20-0-2 when leading after the first period an 23-0-3 when leading after 40 minutes. In the playoffs, the Bruins were 2-0 when leading after two periods.
The Bruins and Islanders play a similar heavy, structured and defensive game, allowing the fourth-fewest goals against (2.39) during the regular season and an even 2.00 goals against per game in their First Round series with the Caps. Not falling behind will be key for the Islanders, since the Bruins do not relinquish leads easily.

ISLANDERS PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey Line
The Islanders line of Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey is running red hot as they enter the series against Boston. The high-flying trio showcased its chemistry, speed, skill and smarts against the Penguins as they combined for a total of 19 points (9G, 10A) throughout the series, led by Beauvillier with seven points (3G, 4A) and six points from both Nelson (3G, 3A) and Bailey (3G, 3A).
The threesome also occupy one of the Islanders power-play units where Beauvillier has lit the lamp once in the postseason.
The Killer Bs Line has played a lot together over the last couple of seasons and it shows, as does their continuation of success and offensive production come playoff time. In the last 36 postseason games, they've been a busy bunch with 23 points (13G, 10A) for Beauvillier, 28 points (16G, 12A) for Nelson and 32 points (9G, 23A) for Bailey.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau
The Islanders centerman is tied with Beauvillier for the team lead in points this postseason with seven (1G, 6A). Pageau is a player who Trotz notes 'doesn't get small in the big moments,' but rather 'embraces them.'
Pageau is a utility knife for the Islanders as he is one of the teams most dominant faceoff takers, can and has been moved up and down the lineup, and is a facet of both the power play and penalty kill.
Trotz often looks to Pageau for crucial draws to maintain possession whether it's the offensive zone or defensive zone, which will be a key test for the Islanders as Boston was one of the best faceoff teams throughout the regular season and into the postseason where they've posted a 54.2 FOW%.
Pageau currently ranks fourth in FOW% (52.9%) among all skaters in the playoffs. Boston's captain Patrice Bergeron ranks second with a 58.5 FOW%.
During the regular season, Pageau elevated his game particularly against the Bruins where he totaled a team-high eight points (5G, 3A), including two shorthanded goals and one game-winning goal.
Notable
During the regular season, Mathew Barzal recorded seven points (3G, 4A) - the second-most behind Pageau - against Boston. The Islanders leading scorer during the regular season posted three assists through six games against the Penguins. While the recently turned 24-year-old hasn't lit the lamp yet in the postseason, a run against the Bs could be the spark to ignite the dynamic forward.

BRUINS PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak Line
Renowned around the league as one of the top lines in the NHL, the Brad Marchand, Bergeron and David Pastrnak line will be a hefty task for the Islanders. While all three offer a unique element, when combined, their chemistry and surgical passing can cause significant damage.
After leading the Bruins in scoring with a combined 165 points (72G, 93A) during the 56-game regular season, the threesome has carried that success over into playoffs where they've combined for 13 points (8G, 5A). Pastrnak is atop Boston's leaderboard with six points (2G, 4A), while Bergeron has posted four (3G, 1A) and Marchand has three goals.
The Perfection Line, as they're known, are used in a variety of scenarios and raise their levels when the stakes are high; all three scored game-winning goals against the Capitals. The trio are regulars on Boston's power play, while Bergeron and Marchand are frequent penalty killers.
Taylor Hall
The Bruins acquired one of the hottest commodities at the trade deadline with the addition of Taylor Hall.
Since joining the Bs the former first-overall pick (Edmonton 2010) has been surging. Hall's renaissance began almost immediately upon his arrival in Boston, where he posted 14 points (8G, 6A) in 16 games after only putting up 19 points (2G, 17A) in 37 games with Buffalo.
So far in the playoffs, Hall has produced three points (2G, 1A). He's been skating alongside David Krejci and Craig Smith which has become a whole other offensive threat in addition to the Perfection Line.
Hall will be facing a familiar face in Jordan Eberle, whom he entered the league at the same time with in Edmonton back in 2010. The pair became fast friends as they spent their rookie seasons together through 2016, when Hall was dealt to New Jersey.
Notable:
The Bruins rely heavily on their defensemen jumping in the attack and a blueliner like Charlie McAvoy can be dangerous. McAvoy is second in points in the postseason behind Pastrnak with five, all of which were power-play assists. While offensively inclined, the Long Beach, LI native isn't afraid to use his sturdy 6-foot, 208-pound frame.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Special teams could be a game changer for either of these staunch defensive teams.
Throughout the abbreviated regular season the Bruins have been one of the better teams in both the power play and penalty kill and have carried that success over into the postseason. Boston boasts a 26.3% power play (5-for-19) and a 85.7% PK (18-for-21) in the playoffs.
Boston had four different players strike on the power play with Marchand leading the way with two PPGs, while Pastrnak, Matt Grzelcyk, and Nick Ritchie also converted. All five of Charlie McAvoy's points - all assists - this postseason have come on the power play with his team-leading five power-play points.
The Bruins have yet to score shorthanded this postseason, but were tied with Montreal for the league lead during the regular season with nine shorthanded goals. On the flip side, the Bruins allowed six shorthanded goals against during the regular season, including two from Pageau.
The Islanders power play picked up in the postseason despite a tough stretch at the end of the regular season and finished with a 18.8% (3-for-16) conversion rate against Pittsburgh. In the regular season, the Islanders were one of the better teams on the kill and were decent against Pittsburgh's surgical power play with a 75% finish (9-for-12).
The Islanders three power-play conversions have come from Beauvillier, Eberle and Oliver Wahlstrom, while Barzal leads the team in power-play points with two.
The Islanders were the only team in the regular season to not relinquish a shorthanded goal, but allowed one against Pittsburgh in Game 4. In the postseason, the Islanders have not scored shorthanded.

INJURIES:

The Islanders entered the postseason with a healthy lineup and have, for the most part, maintained that wellness through the First Round.
Wahlstrom sustained an undisclosed injury following a collision with Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson along the boards in the third period of Game 5. The rookie winger missed Game 6 - he was replaced by Travis Zajac - and has been labeled as 'day-to-day' per Trotz. Through five games, Wahlstrom posted three points (1G, 2A) including a two-point (1G, 1A) outing in the Islanders decisive 4-1 Game 4 win.
The Bruins, who battled injuries up and down their lineup all season long, took a bit of a beating against the heavy Caps in the First Round, who outhit them 218-191. Boston suffered blows to its backend as Jeremy Lauzon and Kevan Miller sustained injuries, in Games 1 and 4, respectively.
Lauzon is showing progress after missing Games 2-5, as he suffered an injury blocking a shot in Game 1. The 24-year-old blueliner is 'trending well' per Cassidy and joined the team for its first practice since knocking out the Capitals, where he donned a non-contact jersey.
Miller, who left Boston's lineup in Game 4 after a high hit from Washington's Dmitry Orlov, has not joined the team for practice yet.