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Boston Bruins: Getting to Know the New Division Opponents for 2021

By Scott Roche

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 10: Tyler Pitlick #18 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Connor Clifton #75 of the Boston Bruins collide in the third period at Wells Fargo Center on March 10, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bruins won 2-0. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 10: Tyler Pitlick #18 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Connor Clifton #75 of the Boston Bruins collide in the third period at Wells Fargo Center on March 10, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bruins won 2-0. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 12: Josh Bailey #12 of the New York Islanders celebrates his short-handed goal at 6:52 of the third period against the Washington Capitals and is joined by Brock Nelson #29 in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 12, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 12: Josh Bailey #12 of the New York Islanders celebrates his short-handed goal at 6:52 of the third period against the Washington Capitals and is joined by Brock Nelson #29 in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 12, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

New York Islanders

To say that the Islanders surprised over the summer at the Toronto bubble would be an understatement.

They took care of the Florida Panthers in the Qualifying Round before dispatching the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. After taking down the Philadelphia Flyers in the Semifinals, they ended up losing to the Lightning in the Conference Final. Still, under coach Barry Trotz, the foundation is there to be tough to play against this season.

They are led by forwards Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee, Jordan Eberle, Brock Nelson, and Anthony Beauvillier. They acquired Jean-Gabriel Pageau from the Senators at the trade deadline in February and promptly signed him to a six-year contract extension. In the playoffs, the Isles got what they needed from Pageau who had eight goals and three assists in 22 games.

In net, the Islanders signed Semyon Varlamov to a four-year, $20 million contract in 2019. He went 11-7 in the postseason with a 2.14 goals-against average (GAA) and a .921 save percentage (SV%) in the Toronto and Edmonton bubble. The former Colorado Avalanche will return and has the capability to steal a game on any given night.

Trotz won the Stanley Cup with Capitals in 2018, before leaving following the season to coach the Islanders. In two seasons in Brooklyn, he is 83-50-17 and has the Isles a frustrating team to play against with their defensive style.

Despite going 2-0-1 against them last season, the Bruins will have to ready for a rock fight each night the two teams battle. On paper, the Bruins are the better team and can play the same style against the Isles and be successful.

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