Islanders vs. Bruins: Odds, Lineups, Retiring 91 and more

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 12: Butch Goring #91 of the New York Islanders skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on November 12, 1980 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 12: Butch Goring #91 of the New York Islanders skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on November 12, 1980 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
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New York Islanders
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 11: Johnny Boychuk #55 and Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders skates against the Boston Bruins at the Barclays Center on January 11, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Bruins defeated the Islanders 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Keys to the Game

Special Teams

Anytime the Bruins play, special teams becomes a factor. The Bruins are top five in the league in both powerplay and penalty kill percentage.

The Islanders must stay out of the box and not give the Bruins any man advantages!

Special teams can definitely make a difference in today’s game. It made a difference the last time these teams met.

The Islanders only took one penalty in regulation, but then they took another in overtime. The Bruins powerplay scored and that was the difference in the game.

Other than that, five on five was a completely even game.

The Islanders need to stay out of the box and if given they are given any man advantages, they must capitalize on them.

Stay on the Attack

For back to back games the Islanders have started off the game strong. In both games, the ice was tilted and the Islanders had definitely controlled the game.

Especially last game, they completely lost all momentum they had from the first period and the Isles offense was pretty much non-existent for the second and third.

Today, the Islanders must stay on the attack!

They must pressure and push Boston for the whole game. Against Boston, the best defense is a great offense. Boston cannot score if they do not have the puck.

The Islanders will have success if they keep the puck out of their own end, limit turnovers and force their game on Boston.

Schedule