3 Questions Facing the Boston Bruins in Game 3 Against the Islanders

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As the East Division, best-of-seven second-round playoff series between the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders shifts to Long Island for Games 3 and 4 beginning tonight tied a game apiece, there are some questions facing the Black and Gold who attempt to get the home-ice advantage back.

After two days off in between games, there are some questions surrounding the Black and Gold ahead of Game 3. Let’s take a look at a few storylines to keep an eye on tonight.

1. How healthy is Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask?

Tuesday morning, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy met with the media and said that Tuukka Rask has been dealing with some nagging injuries. Again, if Cassidy didn’t say anything, would you have thought something was wrong with Rask considering how well he played in the previous seven games? He’s been challenging shots, has had good reaction saves, and been stopping nearly everything he has seen.

It’s the first week of June, the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, so in reality, who is healthy this time of the year, especially after going through a 56-game regular season in four months?

Rask gave up four goals in the Game 2 loss, two deflected by him and one was on a breakaway in overtime. Not a lot of the blame should be directed at Rask, but some will of course.

Between the first two games against the Islanders and the five games against the Capitals, 10 of the 16 goals he has allowed by been redirected by him or gone in off a teammate. He has a 2.06 goals-against average (GAA) in the playoffs this season, with a .930 save percentage (SV%).

Rookie Jeremy Swayman is the backup and ready to go if needed, but if he’s able to play, Cassidy and the coaching staff will ride Rask. We should know early in the game tonight just how healthy he is.

Jan 18, 2021; Uniondale, New York, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (55) battles for the puck against New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) during the second period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports /

2. How does Lauzon responded following his Game 2 turnover?

Defensemen Jeremy Lauzon did not have the best of games in Game 2. The first Islanders goal on the power play from Josh Bailey deflected off of his skate and into the net to tie the game and began a three-goal outburst in the period for the visitors.

Lauzon’s biggest gaffe happened in overtime when he tried a no-look, cross-ice pass that was stolen by New York forward Casey Cizikas who buried the game-winning goal on a breakaway. Following the goal, Lauzon broke his stick in frustration.

After the game, Lauzon’s teammates had his back in the postgame press conferences, which you would expect, but how the 24-year-old bounces back will be seen on his first few shifts.

Is taking Lauzon out of the lineup a decision that Bruins might make? Hope not. He is one of their top penalty-killing defensemen and what’s the alternative option, Jarred Tinordi? No thanks.

Expect Lauzon to have a bounce-back game tonight and still be one of their top penalty killers.

Feb 25, 2021; Uniondale, New York, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) reacts after allowing the New York Islanders to score five goals in the third period and seven overall during the third period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Can the Bruins get a win on Long Island?

If they want to get by the Islanders and into the semifinals against the winner of the series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes, then they have to.

In four trips, albeit, earlier this season, they came away empty-handed in the win column. On Jan. 18, they were shutout 1-0 and a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal late in the third period was the difference to make Semyon Varlamov (27 saves) a winner. A month later, the Isles beat the Bruins, 4-2, with two third-period goals.

On Feb. 27, the Black and Gold were blown out to the tune of 7-2 after leaving Jaroslav Halak out to dry with five third-period goals from New York. Two weeks later, the Bruins played probably their best game of the four on the Island and lost 2-1 in a shootout.

There are going to more fans in attendance at the Nassau Coliseum for the next two games than the Bruins have faced over there this season and expect the Isles to get a change of energy like Boston did at the TD Garden from their fans.

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Winning a game on the Island won’t be easy, but in order to advance, they’ll have to do it at least once this postseason.

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