Islanders vs Bruins Preview: Isles Look to Extend Streak versus Boston

The New York Islanders are back in action tonight as they face off against the Boston Bruins tonight at 7:00 p.m. eastern time at the Nassau Coliseum.

The Islanders are currently one of the hottest teams in hockey. They are one of two teams around the league on a five-game winning streak and they currently sit in first place in the East Division.

This is game four of a five-game homestand for the blue and orange. The Islanders played the Sabres in the first three games of the homestand and won each game 5-2.

The New York Islanders look to continue their home-ice dominance against the Boston Bruins

The Isles have an outstanding record of 10-0-2 record at home and have already beat the Bruins three times in regulation at the coliseum.

The Bruins come into this game after losing 1-0 to New Jersey in Boston. Boston has a 4-5-1 record in their last ten games.

Tale of the Tape

Odds

The Islanders come into today as the underdogs, courtesy of the Action network.

The Islanders are a great play in this one! They come into this game playing outstanding hockey, especially at the Coliseum, while the Bruins have been extremely inconsistent as of late.

Projected Lineups

The Islanders are not projected to make any changes to their roster from Sunday. The Isles have kept a consistent lineup over this streak and it looks doubtful that any changes will be made.

There could be one change for tonight’s clash. Leo Komarov may come in for Michael Dal Colle on the third line. Trotz has called on Komarov against the Bruins because of his penalty-killing ability, which could be the difference tonight.

After the Islanders handed Ilya Sorokin two starts against Buffalo, it looks like Semyon Varlamov will get the start tonight.

The Islanders are projected to lineup like this:

Lee-Barzal-Eberle
Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey
Wahlstrom-Pageau-Dal Colle
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

Pelech-Pulock
Leddy-Mayfield
Dobson-Greene

Varlamov (Sorokin)

If today’s morning skate lines are any indication of how the Bruins will lineup, they will be making one change to their lineup.

Sean Kuraly is expected to slot in as the fourth-line center and replace Jake DeBrusk, who has five points and a -5 plus/minus throughout this season.

It is projected that former Islander netminder, Jaroslav Halak will be named the starter after Tuukka Rask played on Sunday and was “banged up”. Daniel Vladar is expected to be the backup goaltender tonight.

The Bruins are expected to lineup like this:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
Ritchie-Krejci-Studnicka
Frederic-Coyle-Smith
Bjork-Kuraly-Wagner

Grzelcyk-McAvoy
Zboril-Clifton
Tinordi-Vaakanainen

Halak (Vladar)

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Where to Catch the Game

TV: MSG+2, NESN, TVAS
Radio: 88.7FM 103.9FM
*All Stats Provided by the NHL*