The 22-year-old forward has not played since Feb. 10, missing 16 games. Pastrnak, who has 31 goals and 35 assists in 56 games this season, has been cleared to play and will be a game-time decision, per Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. It's the opener of a four-game road trip for Boston, which is four points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division. Goalie Robin Lehner is expected to make his first start for New York since sustaining an upper-body injury March 5. The Islanders have won five of their past seven games and are tied with the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Players to watch
Bruins forward Brad Marchand has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in his past 10 games. Islanders forward Anders Lee has scored a goal in four straight games.
They said it
"From the few times we play them, they're very hard to play against. They have a good system. They made some changes in management, and they're playing into their strength. It's always a handful to play them." -- Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara "That top line is dangerous; you've got to make sure you know what you're doing out there when you're against them. You've got to be smart with the puck, you've got to be hard against them and you've just got to limit their chances. Great players find ways to get chances; it's going to happen. You've just got to make sure you limit them as much as possible. If we do that and we stay out of the box, that only gives us a better chance to win." --Islanders center Casey Cizikas
Krug, who was injured March 12, is on the trip but will not play Tuesday; Miller did not make the trip. … Islanders coach Barry Trotz said Boychuk, who sustained an upper-body injury March 9, is ready to return but will not play, citing New York's depth on defense. … Cizikas, who has been out the past two games because of a lower-body injury, will be a game-time decision.
Stat pack
Bergeron has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his past 10 games. … New York is 0-5-1 in its past six games against Boston and hasn't defeated the Bruins at home since Nov. 2, 2013 (0-7-0).
