Preview: Bruins look to extend series’ lead against Islanders in Game 2

Just the facts

When: Tonight, 7:30 PM

Where: TD Garden – Boston, MA

How to follow: NBCSN, TVAS, SN1, 98.5 The Sports Hub

Rival SBN site: Lighthouse Hockey

Know your enemy

• Playoffs: Anthony Beauvillier: 7GP, 4G, 4A, 8PTS; Jean-Gabriel Pageau: 7GP, 1G, 6A, 7PTS; Josh Bailey: 7GP, 3G, 3A, 6PTS; Brock Nelson: 7GP, 3G, 3A, 6PTS
• Ilya Sorokin: 4-1-0, 2.32 GAA, .934 save percentage; Semyon Varlamov: 0-2-0, 3.61 GAA, .903 save percentage
• Regular season leaders: Mathew Barzal: 17G, 28A, 45PTS; Josh Bailey: 8G, 27A, 35PTS; Brock Nelson: 18G, 15A, 33PTS; Jordan Eberle: 16G, 17A, 33PTS

Game notes

• The Boston Bruins are set to take on the New York Islanders in Game 2 of the second round tonight at the TD Garden. Saturday night’s win gave the Bruins the 1-0 series’ lead. The Bruins held onto the lead twice throughout the game and picked up crucial three goals from David Pastrnak to give the Bruins the 1-1 tie, the 2-1 lead in the second period and then the 4-2 cushion goal in the third to complete the hat trick. Charlie McAvoy netted a big goal in the third period after a PK and Taylor Hall added an empty-net power-play goal. The Bruins scored two power-play goals in the outing, while the Islanders picked up one on the man-advantage. The Bruins outshot the Islanders 40-22 and ended the game with a final score of 5-2.
• The Bruins’ top lines dominated play against the Islanders and it’s likely there will be more of that tonight. That’s goes without saying though, that the Isles’ have a strong forecheck that did create some turnovers and interrupt the Bruins’ transitional game. But overall, the B’s top lines are creating more high-danger scoring compared to the chances the Islanders are getting on Tuukka Rask.
• Pastrnak is on a hot streak and it couldn’t have come at a better time. His three-point night on Saturday was his third consecutive multi-point playoff game this postseason and his first three-point one since the 2018-19 playoffs. He’s registered at least a point in five of the six playoff games so far.
• Pastrnak also recorded his second career playoff hat trick in Saturday’s win, tying David Krejci for fourth on the Bruins’ list of most postseason hattys. Ahead of him? Phil Esposito with four and Cam Neely and Johnny Bucyk with three each. He registered his first playoff hat trick on April 14, 2018 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
• David Krejci’s production during the Washington Capitals series was quiet with two assists in the five games, but he started Round 2 with a bang. Krejci registered three primary assists in the win. Two points were on the power-play.
• The Bruins power play is currently 2-for-2 and we’ll take it! Yes, the last power-play goal against the Islanders was also an empty-netter, but was a three-zone effort to make it.
• For the Islanders, it will be interesting to see who ends up in net. They could continue with Ilya Sorokin. He made 35 saves on 39 shots in his team’s loss, but gave up lengthy rebounds throughout the 60 minutes. He also had moments where he second-guessed the puck’s location like an attempt by Taylor Hall in second period. Sorokin did a double take to see if he had made the save. The four goals allowed were the most he’s let in against him in his five postseason games so far.
• Semyon Varlamov had a rough game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in their first round’s Game 3 and hasn’t maned the pipes since. But against the Bruins in the regular season, Varlamov was 5-1-0 with 11 goals against and one shutout.
• Kevan Miller will not be available for tonight’s game, Bruce Cassidy said. Matt Grzelcyk received treatment yesterday and should be ready to go. There is no official update on Craig Smith’s status as he didn’t skate in yesterday’s optional practice. Smith left Game 1 in the second period with a lower-body injury. He’ll be reassessed this morning.

See ya tonight!