How to Watch Tonight’s game can be found on MSGSN. On the radio, tonight’s contest is available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio and 1050 AM ESPN.
After seeing their five-game point streak snapped, the New York Islanders (5-3-3) visit the league-leading Boston Bruins (10-1-1).
Puck drop from TD Garden is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Islanders fell to the Minnesota Wild Tuesday 4-2, losing in regulation for the first time since October 24. Oliver Wahlstrom gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead after falling behind 1-0 early, but Minnesota tied it three-and-a-half minutes later. In the third period, Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek scored 42 seconds apart, propelling the Wild to victory.
For the Islanders, they’ve had a lead in each of their eight home games thus far but only have a 3-2-3 record at UBS Arena.
Morning Skate Updates
The Islanders skated at TD Garden on Thursday morning.
Ilya Sorokin was in the starter’s crease for the Islanders, he will make his eighth start of the season tonight (3-3-1, 3.12 GAA, .911 SV%).
Adam Pelech (maintenance) and Bo Horvat (day-to-day) did not practice with the team on Wednesday. Both made the trip to Boston, and both were on the ice for morning skate.
Horvat is a game-time decision.
Pierre Engvall, who had a costly turnover in the Islanders 4-2 loss to Minnesota on their fourth goal, stayed out on the ice following the optional skate, as it looks like he'll be a healthy scratch.
Julien Gauthier will draw in if Horvat can't go.
Boston skated at their practice facility this morning.
Linus Ullmark left the ice first for the Bruins, he will make his seventh start of the year (4-1-1, 2.30 GAA, .926 SV%).
Derek Forbort slotted in for former Islanders defenseman Parker Wotherspoon on the third pairing this morning, skating alongside Kevin Shattenkirk. He will likely be the only lineup change for the Bruins.
Charlie McAvoy’s four-game suspension was upheld by the NHL on Wednesday, he will miss tonight’s game.
Charlie McAvoy’s four-game suspension was upheld by the NHL on Wednesday, so the Long Beach native will miss tonight’s game.
New York Islanders Lines (Projected)
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Kyle Palmieri - Brock Nelson -Oliver Wahlstrom
Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Hudson Fasching
Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech - Noah Dobson
Alexander Romanov - Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc - Sebastian Aho
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
Boston Bruins Lines (Projected)
Brad Marchand - Pavel Zacha - David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk - Charlie Coyle - Trent Frederic
Danton Heinen - Matt Poitras - Jake DeBrusk
Patrick Brown - John Beecher - Oskar Steen
Hampus Lindholm - Ian Mitchell
Mason Lohrei - Brandon Carlo
Parker Wotherspoon - Kevin Shattenkirk
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
Islanders Notes
Noah Dobson continued his hot streak with another goal on Tuesday. He now has goals in back-to-back games and 11 points in his last 10 contests. The blueliner also needs two assists to reach 100 for his career.
Pierre Engvall and Casey Cizikas are also chasing milestones. With his assist Tuesday, Engvall needs two points to reach 100 for his career, while Cizikas needs a goal to reach 100 lifetime.
From his time with the Ottawa Senators, Jean-Gabriel Pageau leads active Islanders in goals and points vs. the Bruins. Lifetime, he has 12 goals and 21 points, Mathew Barzal has the most assists with 10.
Sorokin will make his first start against the Bruins since February 17, 2022. He was the winning goaltender in the team’s last win against the Bruins, a 4-1 decision at UBS Arena. He is 1-1-1 lifetime against Boston with a 1.71 GAA and .938 SV%.
Bruins Notes
The Bruins became the first 10-win team in the league on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. John Beecher and Mason Lohrei opened the scoring in the first period, and Brad Marchand added insurance in the third. Despite a late Dallas push, Boston held on for the 3-2 victory.
Boston swept the Islanders aside last season in their three matchups. Their most recent contest came on February 18, a 6-2 Bruins win. Five different players found the back of the net for the Bruins in the win, including Trent Frederic, with two goals.
Despite the departures of David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron this offseason, the Bruins have replicated some of their production. In 12 games each, Pavel Zacha has four goals and four assists, while rookie Matt Poitras has four goals and three assists.
The remaining pieces of Boston’s “perfection line” have strong numbers lifetime against the Islanders. Marchand leads all active Bruins in scoring against New York with 15 goals and 23 assists. Pastrnak has seven goals and 17 assists in 28 games.
After struggling against the Islanders to begin his career. Linus Ullmark has had his way with New York. He boasts a 7-5-1 record, 2.30 GAA, and .915 SV%, and has started each of the last six times the two teams met.
Betting Corner
Do you think the Islanders will beat the Bruins? Boston enters the game as the favorite, sitting at -160 on the money line compared to the islanders’ +135. The over/under enters at 5.5 goals, the under at -120, and the over at +100.
All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook
Fischler: Beware of the Big Bad Bruins
That was the warning spread last spring throughout the National Hockey League -- and with good reason, as the Beantowners ran away with the regular season.
Well, guess what?
The S.O.S emanating from TD Garden still holds as the Islanders prepare to take on -- perhaps even take apart -- the Grizzlies starting at 7 p.m.
Mind you, I'm not suggesting that you bet against the Juggernaut-On-The Charles River.
Right this second -- and despite the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci -- Boston's record is a top-heavy 10-1-1. The word is that coach Jim Montgomery's skaters do not like to lose (5-0-1) at home.
Can they match the NHL-record 65 wins of last season?
Absolutely not!
But, then again, GM Don Sweeney has pulled off some remarkable moves to compensate for the twin Bergeron-Krejci exits.
Plus, he matches our Sorokin-Varly crease combined with Ullmark-Swayman. And 19-year-old rookie defenseman Matt Poitras looms as a Calder Trophy candidate.
But. But. Put on the Praise breaks, please. We're talking about a team that couldn't even get past the first playoff round last spring; and no alibis will be accepted here, thank you.
As for the Islanders, they've got to play better from bench decisions on out. If a time-out is in order -- for crying out loud, don't wait -- the way it was done against Carolina -- until it's too late.
We need Noan Dobson to continue playing his solid, two-way game and the Pulock-Pelech pair to lift their game a notch. And for Brock Nelson to score like it's October.
Ollie Wahlstrom should produce a reasonable facsimile of his brilliant now-you-see-it-now-you-don't goal against Minny Tuesday night.
How's that for a start?
Now we'll see if the Isles can finish!
How To Watch
Tonight’s game can be found on MSGSN. On the radio, tonight’s contest is available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio, and 1050 AM ESPN.
Matthew Page contributed to this preview.