Game 2 Preview: Islanders at Bruins

GAME 2: ISLANDERS AT BRUINS
7:30 PM | TD GARDEN
BOS LEADS SERIES 1-0
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Make it a split.
After suffering a 5-2 loss in Game 1 on Saturday night at TD Garden, the New York Islanders are looking to tie their second round series against the Boston Bruins at one game apiece. The goal would be to ideally return home for Games 3 and 4 having split their road games against the Bs.

Overall, the Islanders were relatively pleased with their performance in Game 1 despite the skewed score and titled shot differential of 40-22, with both obviously going in favor of the Bruins. Heading into the third period, the game was even at 2-2, with an exchange of first period power-play goals from Anthony Beauvillier (his third goal in as many games) and Bruins winger David Pastrnak and second-period strikes from Pastrnak - again - and Adam Pelech.
But the game got away from the Islanders in the third period, as 17,400 fans at the sold-out TD Garden provided the Bruins a boost. Boston d-man Charlie McAvoy wired a shot through traffic to net the game-winner while Pastrnak completed the hat trick and Taylor Hall converted on a late power play, with an empty Islander cage to rack up the 5-2 final score.
"The first two periods, we played them pretty well," Islanders Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "The game got away from us in the third and then [Patrice] Bergeron's line did all of the damage to us and there wasn't enough push from us in the third. I thought the game really changed when we had the power play and they scored right after the power play. To me, they got a lot of energy in the building off of that and they fed off that. The fourth goal was the nail in the coffin."

Fortunately, the Islanders are a resilient and veteran group. They had already moved on to Game 2 the moment the final whistle blew and have readied themselves for a strong and hopefully, successful performance on Monday night where puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden.
"You want to start the series, especially on the road, to put yourself in the best position when going back home," Kyle Palmieri said. "There's some things we can draw from that we did well and some positives there, but I think overall as a team, we know we have a better game to put forward. We'll just look forward to doing that."
Islanders Update: Per Trotz, the Islanders will use the same skaters. Oliver Wahlstrom remains 'day-to-day' with a lower-body injury.
Bruins Update: Per Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy, Craig Smith will not play in Game 2 and is labeled as 'day-to-day.'

CONTAIN THE 'PERFECTION LINE'

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Coming into this series, the Islanders knew they'd have their hands full when being served the challenge of trying to disarm, or at the very least limit, Boston's top line - also known as the 'Perfection Line' - of Brad Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak.
The trio, who are known as one of the best lines in hockey, showcased their ability to take over a game as they did in Game 1 where they combined for six points (3G, 3A) and 19 shots, accentuated by Pastrnak's hat-trick effort.
When asked about the differences in being able to contain the Pittsburgh's top line of Jake Guentzel, Sidney Crsoby and Bryan Rust line so well - where they only combined for seven points (4G, 3A) in six games - Trotz noted he felt he didn't have a full four-line effort in Game 1 against Boston.
"With Crosby's line, there's a great player and two very good players; on this line, there's three great players at different points in their careers and that's what makes this line so good," Trotz said. "[In Game 1] they were on and they were very difficult to stop. To me, they were the difference in the game. We won't be able to win unless we have all four lines helping to keep them contained."
It'll take a group effort, but it's ingrained in the Islanders' DNA to work as a collective entity opposed to individuals. They'll key in to limit and target the Perfection Line in Game 2 and moving forward.
"We have to do it with four lines going and everybody contributing," Trotz said.

POTENTIAL LINEUP ALTERATIONS

Trotz confirmed following the team's practice on Sunday afternoon in Boston that the same group of skaters would be used in Game 2. He did make note that the combinations of the skaters may be altered accordingly.
"We'll have the same skaters, the same group will play tomorrow," Trotz said. "If they're playing in the same positions, I am considering that."
With potential variations in lines, Trotz further emphasized the importance of having the personnel that takes the ice in Game 2 play a complete, dialed-in effort.
"If you get on the ice, it doesn't matter who you play with, you've got to raise your game," Trotz said. "We've got some guys that didn't raise their game."

PLAY ISLANDER HOCKEY

While there were some areas to build off of and like about the Islanders performance in Game 1 - like converting their fourth PPG of the postseason (which is at 21.1% overall), getting some offense from their blueline and out-hitting Boston 49-42 - the team aims to unleash a better-executed game on Monday as they play to their identity.
That means limiting Boston's reps on the power play - where the unit was 2-for-2 - trying to earn the advantage in the faceoff circle - as they finished at 48 FOW% to Boston's 52 FOW%. Perhaps most importantly, the Islanders will look to create more net-front traffic and crash the hard areas in order to make it more challenging on Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask - who made 20 saves on 22 shots in Game 1.
"They came at us hard, we weren't able to find some pucks," Trotz said. "Therefore, there was some loose change around. But they had some loose change around Rask as well. We weren't in the interior enough to collect it."

BOSTON NOTES:

• For the first time since March 7, 2020, TD Garden was filled to capacity in Game 1.
• Pastrnak recorded his second-career hat trick in the postseason. The 25-year-old winger leads the team in scoring and goals with five goals and nine points in the playoffs. All five of Pastrnak's goals have occurred in the last three games.
• While Bergeron totaled two assists, David Krejci produced a game-high of three assists.
• With a 2-for-2 finish on the power play, Boston ranks second behind Tampa (8) in postseason PPGs with seven (7-for-21, 33.3%).
• Forward Craig Smith left the game in the third period with lower-body injury and did not return. Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy did not have an update on Smith after Sunday's practice. Smith skates on Boston's second line alongside Krejci and Hall and has registered three points (1G, 2A) in six games this postseason.
• Cassidy confirmed that defenseman Kevan Miller will not be available for Game 2 as he continues to tend to an undisclosed ailment that has sidelined him for the last two games.