Boston Bruins: Plenty on the Line vs. Islanders
By Scott Roche
Tonight the Boston Bruins play the first of their last two remaining regular-season games when they host the New York Islanders at TD Garden. Both teams are in the postseason in the East Divison Stanley Cup playoffs that begin soon.
While both teams have their ticket punched to the big dance, there is still plenty on the line.
The Bruins have 71 points and are one ahead of the Isles entering the game. This is the final regular-season game for the Islanders, while the Bruins will charter a flight following the game to Washington, D.C. to play the Capitals in their regular-season final tomorrow night.
Boston could have third place in the division locked up heading into their battle with Islanders, but a third-period meltdown Saturday afternoon against the New York Rangers allowed the Blueshirts to close out their season with a 5-4 come-from-behind victory.
Instead, there is added importance on tonight’s tilt as an Islanders regulation win jumps them over Boston and into third place. Boston does have a game in hand, tomorrow night, so if they are able to get two points out of tonight, then they lock up the third-seed.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have locked up the top-seed in the division and the Caps locked up the second-seed with their win over the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday night. If the Bruins get two points out of tonight, what does Coach Bruce Cassidy do tomorrow night in Washington? Does he give some of his veterans some much-needed rest?
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Boston, who has been on a tear since trades that brought in Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar from the Buffalo Sabres and Mike Reilly from the Ottawa Senators, can finish third or fourth place in the division and can find out their first-round playoff opponent as early as tonight. Washington or Pittsburgh? Who is your preferred opponent?