New York Islanders And Bruins Battle for League Sanity

That’s a dramatic title, but tonight as the New York Islanders battle the Boston Bruins, they’ll have two jobs. First, get the two points, and second, make sure Brad Marchand doesn’t get a point, for the sake of the league.

The New York Islanders need the two points tonight against the Bruins in order to stay in the playoff picture.

The Bruins are the only team, with a win tonight that could knock the Islanders out of that precarious wild-card spot. (The Lightning don’t play tonight).

So task number one is take the two points. No overtime. Just a clean and comprehensive regulation victory, please. No need to make this playoff race anymore dramatic than it already is. Just get the job done and enjoy that day off before seeing the Predators.

Doing so should be a little easier with the announcement that Tuukka Rask won’t be in nets tonight due to a lower-body injury.

Fair, Rask hasn’t been the same goalie this season. His .910 SV% and 2.38 GAA is below his average .922 SV% and 2.26 GAA. But there’s a reason Rask is the starter and Khubodin is the backup. Because he’s decidedly worse.

More from Eyes On Isles

• Islanders: Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock Could Be Olympic Bound
• Islanders key to success: Load management with goalies
• Islanders Zdeno Chara trending in the right direction
• Islanders: Semyon Varlamov Deserves Benefit of the Doubt
• Islanders Ilya Sorokin becoming number one goalie

This season, Khubodin is a .899 SV% and 2.73 GAA in 13 starts with the Bruins. So, clearly, advantage Islanders. Although the last time the Isles played the Bruins Rask was abysmal. So maybe they’d have a better chance against him?

No. No second guessing!

Quite Marchand For Sanity’s Sake

Now onto job number two. Keeping Brad Marchand quiet and off the scoresheet. Please.

Marchand has 37 goals and 80 points this season. That’s right, 80. He’s actually not far off from an Art Ross trophy. This can’t happen.

Can you imagine if Marchand wins an Art Ross? How many coaches try to get their players to play the “Marchand” way after that?

Hockey’s a copy-cat league, so don’t say it won’t happen, because we all know it will.

Thankfully Connor MacDavid put up five points in his last two games and has pulled ahead with 87 points on the season.

If the Isles play their part and McDavid continues his 1.18 points per game pace Marchand won’t win an Art Ross and all will be right in the universe.

Next: Refs Forgot Their Own Rule Book Last Night

Where to Catch the Game:

Live: 7PM Barclays Center
TV: MSG+
Radio: AM970 – The Answer, 88.7FM – WRHU, 103.9FM – LI News
Fubo Stream