Tonight, the Boston Bruins once again face off against the New York Islanders. These two teams just played each other last night as the B’s were finally able to take down the Isles and obtain two points in the standings.
Tonight will be the seventh of eight games between these two teams this season. However, the last game won’t take place for nearly a month, on May 10.
As I previously mentioned, last night was the B’s first win against the Islanders this season. Tonight they’ll be going for their second straight win against the Islanders and their third straight win overall as they look to sweep this two-game mini series.
This Isles tend to play extremely well when it comes to the second game of back-to-backs. Isles’ head coach Barry Trotz will most likely make some lineup changes after a lackluster effort last night. So the Black and Gold should expect a much better effort from the Islanders tonight.
Boston Bruins vs New York Islanders projected lineups.
Boston Bruins
Record: 23-12-6 (52 points)
Head coach Bruce Cassidy has confirmed that Boston will be going with the same lineup as last night, except for a change in goal. Defenseman Kevan Miller is still out as he’s considered day-to-day, and Jeremy Swayman will get the start in net. Dan Vladar will back up Swayman as Tuukka Rask gets the entire night off after winning his 300th game last night.
Expect the Bruins to line up like this tonight:
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Hall – Krejci – Smith
Ritchie – Coyle – DeBrusk
Kuraly – Lazar – Wagner
Lauzon – McAvoy
Reilly – Kampfer
Zboril – Clifton
Swayman (Vladar)
New York Islanders
Record: 27-12-4 (58 points)
Even before the game began last night, Barry Trotz hinted at lineup changes for the Islanders for tonight due to the two games in two nights scenario. While I’m not exactly sure who will be coming out and who will be going in, I can make a good guess.
Forwards Cal Clutterbuck and Josh Bailey we both banged up in last night’s game. Bailey was injured during the second period and never returned, while Clutterbuck was getting checked repeatedly.
With Michael Dal Colle now off injured reserve and back from injury, my guess is he goes in for Bailey on the second line. Clutterbuck will be replaced by Leo Komarov.
On defense, my guess is that Noah Dobson will come out of the lineup with Braydon Coburn going in for him and making his debut for the Islanders.
In net, the Isles will have Ilya Sorokin with Semyon Varlamov backing him up.
Expect the Islanders to line up like this tonight:
Zajac – Barzal – Eberle
Beauvillier – Nelson – Dal Colle
Palmieri – Pageau – Wahlstrom*
Martin – Cizikas – Komarov
*If one of Clutterbuck or Bailey plays, expect Wahlstrom to come out of the lineup with Dal Colle or Komarov replacing him.
Pelech – Pulock
Leddy – Mayfield
Coburn – Greene
Sorokin (Varlamov)
Where and when to watch Boston Bruins vs New York Islanders.
Time: 7 PM EST
Location: TD Garden
TV Broadcast: NESNplus, MSG+, NHL Network
Radio Broadcast: 98.5 The Sports Hub
The Islanders may not be playing with as much talent tonight, but they’ll have guys that will skate hard and get to loose pucks. The B’s will have to outskate and endure the Isles’ relentless forecheck to be victorious tonight.