Game Preview: NY Islanders vs. Boston Bruins 1/18/2023

Coming off a brutal loss, the NY Islanders look to get back on track as they welcome the Boston Bruins to the UBS Arena. The Islanders will look to do what not many other teams have been able to do this season, which is, beating the Bruins.

Last Game

The Islanders come into this game with the Bruins losing in brutal fashion against the Washington Capitals. This marked the Islanders' sixth loss in seven games. Sebastian Aho, Matt Martin, and Hudson Fasching would give the Islanders the lead 3-0. However, the Capitals would not go down quietly as they tied the game, and forced overtime where Dmitry Orlov would put the final dagger in the game, scoring the game-winning goal.

On the other side of things, the Bruins are continuing their incredible run. The Bruins won four of their last five games, including a 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday. Linus Ullmark is 23-2-1 on the season, averaging just under two goals per game with a .936 save percentage. The Islanders more than have their work cut out for them against this team.

Historical Matchup

This will be the second time this season that the Islanders and Bruins face off. The first time came on Dec. 13 when the Bruins defeated the Islanders in a shootout, 4-3. Jake DeBrusk would pick up two goals in this game for the Bruins, three points in total. Josh Bailey, Noah Dobson, and Casey Cizikas would tie the game at three to force overtime.

Mat Barzal would be the only Islander to score in the shootout, which ultimately gave the Islanders the loss. The Islanders had a great showing against Boston the first time they played them this season, let's hope that continues in today's game when the two teams meet again. The two teams played each other three times last year, with the Islanders winning two of the three.

Player to Watch

Perhaps nobody has been hotter in the NHL than David Pastrnak as of late. In the past five games alone, Pastrnak has eight goals, two assists, and 10 points in total. On the year, Pastrnak already has 62 points off of 35 goals and 27 assists. The Islanders must look to slow him down and not allow him to beat them in their defensive zone.

Projected Lines

Islanders

Zach Parise- Mat Barzal- Josh Bailey Anders Lee- Brock Nelson- Simon Holmstrom Anthony Beauvillier- JG Pageau- Hudson Fasching Matt Martin- Casey Cizikas- Cal Clutterbuck

Parker Wotherspoon- Ryan Pulock Alexander Romanov- Scott Mayfield Sebastian Aho- Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin Semyon Varlamov

Bruins

Brad Marchand- Patrice Bergeron- Craig Smith Pavel Zacha- David Krejci- David Pastrnak Taylor Hall- Charlie Coyle- Trent Frederic Nick Foligno- Joona Koppanen- A.J. Greer

Matt Grzelcyk- Charlie McAvoy Hampus Lindholm- Brandon Carlo Derek Forbort- Connor Clifton

Jeremy Swayman Linus Ullmark