By: Joey Partridge | Follow Me On Twitter @joey_partridge
On Monday, January 18th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Boston Bruins depart from Newark, New Jersey after a two-game set with the New Jersey Devils to take on the New York Islanders in Long Island.
The visiting Boston Bruins come in with a record of 1-0-1 after a shootout win in their opener and an overtime loss on Saturday. The Bruins have yet to score at even strength in the short 2021 season due to great defensive play by the New Jersey Devils.
The Boston Bruins seemed to struggle with the trap style play of the New Jersey Devils, and they are going to see more of the same on Monday when they take on Barry Trotz’s Islanders. Trotz has earned the reputation as a defense first coach and has his Islanders playing a trap style defense. The Bruins will have to figure out how to break through it if they are going to have any success.
The Islanders are coming off a two-game set of their own against the New York Rangers, splitting that series in two lopsided games. The Islanders won their opener 4-0, with Segei Varlamov posting a 19-save shutout. The same could not be said for Saturday’s game as it was all Rangers, shutting the Islanders out 5-0. Ilya Sorokin got his first taste of NHL action saving 27 of 32 shots. The projected starting goaltenders for this 5:00 pm EST start are Tuukka Rask and Sergei Varlamov.
Notable injuries for the Boston Bruins include David Pastrnak remained sidelined due to his offseason hip surgery. No further updates have been made about his recovery. Ondrej Kase left Saturday’s matinee with an upper body injury and is listed as day to day. Bruce Cassidy listed Kase as “doubtful” for Monday’s game. Craig Smith missed Sunday’s practice for a maintenance day but “should play” per Bruce Cassidy.The Islanders are more fortunate as their only listed injuries are Sebastian Aho and Michael Dal Colle, both listed on the Injured Reserve List.
With Kase sidelined, expect to see Jack Studnicka slotted back into the lineup. If the Bruins are to have any success against the Islanders, the younger players are going to have some big games. A key focal point for the Bruins this year has been their defense after the departure of Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug. Jakub Zboril and Jeremy Lauzon have been solid on that left side while Kevan Miller has been great in his first two games back.
Expect another low scoring game in Long Island with the Bruins struggling to score 5 on 5 and the Islanders defensive mindset. The Bruins will be looking to bounce back after a lackluster effort against the New Jersey Devils while the Islanders look to do the same.
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