Bruins at Islanders 2/25/21: Game preview, lineups, and more

So far this season the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders have faced off twice. Both times the Isles were able to best the B’s — the first time in a low scoring 1-0 shutout, and the second being a 4-2 loss.

For the Black and Gold, this hasn’t been the norm against the Islanders. Before this season, Boston had dominated the Isles. But, for some reason, this has been the opposite so far this season.

So, in their third of eight matchups this season, the B’s will be looking to pick up at a point tonight. However, this will be a bit tougher than it was in the previous two matchups as the Black and Gold will be down a few key players.

But even with some players out, this game should still be entertaining. Boston vs New York Islanders almost always creates a great game, and I wouldn’t expect tonight to be any different.

Boston Bruins at New York Islanders projected lineups.

Boston Bruins
Record: 11-3-2 (24 points)

As I stated earlier, the B’s will be without several key players tonight. These players include defensemen Jeremy Lauzon, Matt Grzelcyk, and Kevan Miller, and forwards David Krejci and Ondrej Kase.

Lauzon will be out for at least the next month, Grzelcyk is still making his way back from a lower-body injury, and Miller’s surgically repaired knee is a bit sore. Krejci is out for a second straight game with a lower-body injury, while Kase has been out since the second game of the season with an upper-body injury.

While the Black and Gold lost Lauzon, Jakub Zboril will be making his return tonight after missing almost two weeks with an upper-body injury. Zboril practiced with Brandon Carlo on the second pairing yesterday, but it seems as though he’ll be getting a chance on the first pairing with Charlie McAvoy.

This means rookie Urho Vaakanainen will be either on the second or third pairing. My guess is second pairing, with John Moore on the third pairing alongside Connor Clifton.

With Krejci still out, Rookie Jack Studnicka will once again slot in at third line center with Charlie Coyle still up at second line center.

Expect the Bruins to look like this tonight:

Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Ritchie – Coyle – Smith
Bjork – Studnicka – DeBrusk
Frederic – Kuraly – Wagner

Zboril – McAvoy
Vaakanainen – Carlo
Moore – Clifton

Halak (Rask)

Head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed that Jaroslav Halak will be getting the start tonight against his former team. Tuukka Rask will be starting tomorrow night against the New York Rangers and most likely Sunday against the Rangers, as well.

New York Islanders
Record: 9-6-3 (21 points)

The Islanders are going into this game almost completely healthy. The only exception is winger Michael Dal Colle who is on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.

Expect the Islanders to look like this tonight:

Lee – Barzal – Eberle
Beauvillier – Nelson – Bailey
Czarnik – Pageau – Wahlstrom
Martin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck

Pelech – Pulock
Leddy – Mayfield
Greene – Dobson

Varlamov (Sorokin)

Where and when to watch Boston Bruins at New York Islanders.

Time: 7 PM EST

Location: Nassua Coliseum

TV Broadcast: NESN, MSG+, SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP

Radio Broadcast: 98.5 The Sports Hub

Hopefully the Black and Gold can finally figure out the Isles tonight. The East is really close right now with Philly, Pittsburgh, and the Isles all tied at 21 points and the B’s being just two points ahead of the second place Washington Capitals. These two points are big.