After earning back-to-back wins to finish February, the New York Islanders (25-20-14) host the Boston Bruins (35-12-14).
After earning back-to-back wins to finish February, the New York Islanders (25-20-14) host the Boston Bruins (35-12-14).
Puck drop from UBS Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Boston took the first two matchups from the Islanders this season, most recently topping them 5-4 in the shootout on Dec. 15.
With the Philadelphia Flyers falling to the Washington Capitals 5-2 and the New Jersey Devils falling 4-3 to the Anaheim Ducks, the Islanders. find themselves five points back of third place in the Metropolitan Division with two games in hand.
Where They've Been:
The Bruins recovered from blowing 3-0 and 4-2 leads against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. Boston came out of the gates hot, getting bookend goals from Morgan Geekie and a Jesper Boqvist red light in the first period. Paul Cotter and Alex Pietrangelo cut into the deficit in the second period, but Geekie completed the hat trick to make it a 4-2 game.
Vegas once again tallied two straight goals to tie it, with Michael Amadio and Chandler Stephenson lighting the lamp between the second and third periods. However, Mason Lohrei scored a power-play goal inside the final five minutes to give Boston back the lead and finish a 5-4 win.
Boston stood alone atop the NHL standings for most of the season, but the Florida Panthers caught them in the standings; both teams have 84 points entering play on Saturday.
Players to Watch:
After missing Friday's practice to rest, Ilya Sorokin will make his third-straight start and 43rd of the season (19-13-11, 3.11 GAA, .909 SV%). He made 22 stops in Thursday's 5-3 win and has points in seven of his last eight starts. Despite a 2.72 GAA and .910 SV% against the Bruins, Sorokin is 1-2-2, most recently letting up four goals on 34 shots in a 5-4 shootout in their last matchup.
Mathew Barzal tallied a goal and an assist on Thursday, he now owns a three-game point streak with a goal and three assists in that span. He also has three assists in their two prior meetings this season.
Bo Horvat had a three-point night against the Bruins in their last meeting, boasting a goal and two assists. Brock Nelson tallied a goal and an assist in their last matchup, totaling two goals and an assist overall.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau leads the Islanders in goals and points against Boston. The former Ottawa Senator has 12 goals and 23 assists in 38 games, as well as a three-game assist streak. Barzal leads in assists against the Bruins with 13.
Linus Ullmark, who started both meetings with the Islanders for Boston, will make his 29th start and 30th appearance of the season (16-6-6, 2.72 GAA, .913 SV%). He is on a four-game overtime losing streak, making 24 saves in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken last time out.`However, he has a six-game winning streak against New York, boasting a 9-5-1 record with a 2.38 GAA and .914 SV%, making 33 saves on 37 shots in their last meeting.
After tallying a pair of assists against the Golden Knights, David Pastrnak has five points over his last two games, totaling two goals and three assists. He also owns a six-game point streak against New York entering Saturday's game with three goals and seven assists in that span.
Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk also has a point streak against the Islanders, totaling two goals and three assists across three straight games.
Topping the Bruins roster in scoring against the Islanders is Brad Marchand; his 15 goals and 41 assists lead the team in each category. His 26 helpers are tied with James van Riemsdyk for the most for the Bruins.
New York Islanders Projected Lines:
Brock Nelson - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Anders Lee - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Kyle Palmieri
Pierre Engvall - Casey Cizikas - Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin - Kyle MacLean - Cal Clutterbuck
Alexander Romanov - Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech - Noah Dobson
Mike Reilly - Sebastian Aho
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
Boston Bruins Projected Lines (via Joe Pohoryles):
Brad Marchand -- Charlie Coyle -- David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk -- Pavel Zacha -- Jake DeBrusk
Danton Heinen -- Morgan Geekie -- Trent Frederic
Jakub Lauko -- Jesper Boqvist -- Marc McLaughlin
Derek Forbort -- Charlie McAvoy
Mason Lohrei -- Brandon Carlo
Parker Wotherspoon -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
How to Watch:
The Islanders-Bruins matchup will air on MSGSN. On the radio, the contest is available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio, and 1050 AM ESPN.