Boston Bruins Round 2 Round Table: Can they withstand the Islanders?
The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders will go to battle in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The series will begin Saturday, May 29 at 8 PM EST at TD Garden as the B’s will have home-ice advantage with them originally being the third seed and the Isles being the fourth seed in the East.
Over the course of these two teams eight meetings during the regular season, the Isles had Boston’s number early on as they won the first five matchups. However, with the Isles losing captain and first-line left wing Anders Lee, things became difficult for the Islanders.
To make matters worse, the B’s added left wing Taylor Hall at the trade deadline and the games switched over from Nassau Coliseum on Long Island to TD Garden in Boston. Hall and home-ice advantage significantly helped the B’s against the Isles as they lost in overtime in the first game at TD Garden and then won the next three after acquiring Hall.
If the Black and Gold can add on to their most-recent success against the Islanders from the regular season in the playoffs, they should easily win this series.
Boston Bruins – New York Islanders Series Prediction:
Matt Hawkins
For the first time since 1983, the Bruins and Islanders find themselves against each other in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That series saw the Isles victorious after six games as they eventually went on the beat the Edmonton Oilers for their fourth and most-recent Stanley Cup.
This series will probably end in the B’s favor however.
The Islanders are great defensively but still lack a true goal scorer. The B’s, on the other hand, have four guys in their top-six that have scored at least 30 goals in a season before. So, while the Isles may be able to shutdown one of Boston’s top two lines, they may not be able to shutdown the other. Furthermore, the B’s also have a third line that can also score. While the Islanders can roll out four “balanced” lines, so can the Bruins.
What this series is really going to come down to is home-ice advantage. The Isles are a much better team at home than on the road, and with the B’s having the privilege of playing four out of the possible seven games at home — including the first two games of the series — they have an incredible advantage over the Isles.
I think the B’s get off the a quick start against the Islanders and win the first two games of the series, then split the next four.
Prediction: Bruins in 6
Boston Bruins – New York Islanders Series Prediction:
Scott Roche
This should be a very good series. Expect a tight-checking, low-scoring series between two teams that play similar styles.
The Islanders won five of the eight games this season, but the Bruins won the last three following the trade deadline. Both teams took advantage of shaking goaltending in their first-round series wins, but this series should be different for both.
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Continuing to get production from the top two lines is a must in the series for Boston, while special teams could be a big factor. The Bruins will need power play goals, as well as their penalty-killing to be as good as it was during the regular season.
As the higher seed, the Bruins get home-ice advantage, which is something that is going to be very big in the series. The Islanders won all four games at home, so taking care of business in the first two games at the TD Garden is almost a must for Boston. The Isles have been a very good team at home this season and this is also the final season in the Nassau Coliseum.
Prediction: Bruins in 7
Boston Bruins – New York Islanders Series Prediction:
Jack Long
The New York Islanders, much like the Boston Bruins, are a well coached team, but also a team who prioritizes the defensive side of the game even more than that of the offensive. This makes them a very unique group to play and one that you don’t want to get behind against. As long as you can play good defence against this group and not let them take a couple-goal lead you should always be in the game.
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The New York Islanders don’t have many names that pop off the page when it comes to star power or skill level, but the teamwork this group plays with makes them a threat every night. They have sneaky depth and solid players at every position. Young goaltender Ilya Sorokin has shown he can be ’the guy’ in the postseason and has played lights out when between the pipes.
With the Boston Bruins being one of the better defensive teams in the league as well, this could be a tight checking series. The Bruins finished their season series 3-0 against the Islanders after their trade deadline additions came into the fold, but they have little exeperince with Sorokin between the pipes.
When it comes down to it, the Boston Bruins are a deeper team at every position. If they can figure out Ilya Sorokin early, they should have a good shot at moving on to the Semifinals.
Prediction: Bruins in 5
Boston Bruins – New York Islanders Series Prediction:
Jamie Gatlin
The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders will meet in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday night. It is the playoff matchup between these two teams since 1983. The Bruins are in the second round for the fourth consecutive season, while it is the third straight season for the Islanders.
During the regular season, New York won five of the eight meetings between the two teams. The Bruins, however, won the last three games partly due to the play of Taylor Hall. After facing the Penguins in the first round, the Islanders will again have their hands full with the Bruins’ forward group.
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A few key players to watch in this series will be David Pastrnak, Taylor Hall, Mathew Barzal, and Ilya Sorokin. In the first round, Sorokin became the 10th goalie in NHL history to win his first four playoff games. As the Islanders look to extend their playoff run, Sorokin will be tasked with stopping a red-hot David Pastrnak.
For the Bruins to advance, they will need to get balanced scoring. The Islanders will need Sorokin to match Rask’s play after an impressive first round. It will be a fun matchup to watch, but Boston should be able to move on.
Prediction: Bruins in 6
Boston Bruins – New York Islanders Series Prediction:
Joe Russo
Similarly to the Washington Capitals, the New York Islanders are a heavy team with sound defensive fundamentals and a top-six forward group that can rival that of anyone else.
During the regular season it always seemed like the Islanders had it out for Boston, who lacked any semblance of puck luck in the typically low scoring affairs. However, Boston went 3-0 in their final three matchups of the season and undoubtably constructed some much-needed confidence.
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A key to this series will be to get on the scoreboard early and often. The Islanders are a team that plays far more confidently with the lead as opposed to chasing it.
Not only that, but when down a goal or two it does not allow for Islanders’ head coach Barry Trotz to deploy his patented neutral zone trap, which caused fits for the Pittsburg Penguins in Round 1.
Prediction: Bruins in 6
Boston Bruins – New York Islanders Series Prediction:
Bryan Murphy
Ah yes, the always fun and entertaining New York Islanders. While boring to the average fan, the Islanders are an example of a well-oiled machine that is an absolute pain to play against thanks to Barry Trotz. The Boston Bruins certainly will have a handful and they know it too — they lost the first five matchups against the Isles this season.
The Islanders’ goaltending situation could make or break this season. Semyon Varlamov had a fantastic regular season, but is 0-2-0 in the playoffs with a 3.61 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
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The starting job looks like it is Ilya Sorokin’s to lose, who was great in the first round against the Penguins. But he’s also a rookie, and the B’s just made quick work out of the first-year starting goalie in D.C.
With their goaltending in the air, plus the Islanders’ offense just not being good enough to beat the Black and Gold, this will be the Bruins’ series to lose. Unless, of course, Kyle Palmieri continues to torture the B’s. But we’re just going to say that was strictly a New Jersey thing.
Prediction: Bruins in 6
Boston Bruins – New York Islanders Series Prediction:
Caylee Allard
The Bruins and Islanders will be a tight series. The Islanders always seem to have the Bruins’ number and beat them even when the Bruins are hot.
However, the Bruins have had significant rest and will have home-ice advantage. The Islanders beat the Penguins in 6 games facing a very shaky Tristan Jarry in goal.
It will be hard for the Islanders to dominate Tuukka Rask even though they made scoring look easy against the Penguins.
I don’t think the B’s will have it as easy this time around like they did against the Capitals, but I do think if the offense is as productive as Round 1, they can win the series.
Prediction: Bruins in 7
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Just like the first round, the Causeway Crowd team is confident in the B’s. And they have every right to be. The B’s took quick care of the Caps and could very well do the same with the Isles. However, most of us seem to think this series will either go six or seven games.