Preview: Islanders at Bruins

ISLANDERS (11-14-2) at BRUINS (17-13-3)
7 p.m. ET; SN, NESN, MSG+2, NHL.TV

Islanders team scope

New York Islanders defenseman Dennis Seidenberg returns to TD Garden for the first time since the Boston Bruins bought out his contract June 30. Seidenberg was plus-54 in 401 regular-season games for the Bruins and was an integral part of their 2011 Stanley Cup championship team. "It will definitely be different coming in and being on the other side after being here quite a few years," Seidenberg said. "It was a fun time and a fun team [in 2011] and we always love to look back at that year." Goalie Thomas Greiss (6-5-0, 2.67 goals-against average, .912 save percentage) will start for the Islanders after J-F Berube played the past two games, including a 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators at Barclays Center on Sunday. The Islanders are 0-4-1 in their past five games.

Bruins team scope

Goalie Tuukka Rask (16-5-3, 1.82 GAA, .932 save percentage) will start for the Bruins. Rask is coming off an 18-save shutout in a 1-0 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. Nine of the Bruins' past 11 games have been decided by one goal and they're 5-1-3 in those games. Although the Bruins would like to score more, they're hopeful the close games will pay off down the stretch. "We've certainly had our share of close games," defenseman Adam McQuaid said. "Certainly down the stretch and in the playoffs you're going to have a lot of close games. It would be nice not to always be in the tight games but hopefully everyone gains experience and we have experience together in those situations."

Islanders projected lineup

Anders Lee -- John Tavares -- Josh Bailey
Andrew Ladd -- Alan Quine -- Jason Chimera
Shane Prince -- Brock Nelson -- Anthony Beauvillier
Nikolay Kulemin -- Ryan Strome -- Cal Clutterbuck
Nick Leddy -- Travis Hamonic
Thomas Hickey -- Johnny Boychuk
Calvin de Haan -- Dennis Seidenberg
Thomas Greiss
Jaroslav Halak
Scratched:Jean-Francois Berube
Injured:Adam Pelech (upper body), Casey Cizikas (upper body)

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Riley Nash
Ryan Spooner -- David Krejci -- David Backes
Tim Schaller -- Austin Czarnik -- Noel Acciari
Anton Blidh -- Dominic Moore -- Jimmy Hayes
Zdeno Chara -- Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug -- Adam McQuaid
Kevan Miller -- Colin Miller
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin
Scratched:Frank Vatrano, Joe Morrow
Injured:David Pastrnak (elbow), John-Michael Liles (concussion), Matt Beleskey (knee)

Status report

The Islanders will use the same 18 skaters from their loss Sunday. ... Vatrano was recalled from Providence of the American Hockey League on Monday but will not play. He's still waiting to make his season debut after injuring his foot in the offseason.

Who's hot

Lee has 11 points, including nine goals, in his past 13 games. ... Marchand has a point in seven of his past nine games.