Offense meets defense at UBS Arena on Wednesday as the high-volume shooting Boston Bruins (34-5-4) travel to take on the stifling goaltending of the New York Islanders (23-18-4). Boston is coming off a 6-0 win over the Flyers on Monday. The Bruins committed nine penalties in the game, though they held Philadelphia without a power play goal.
Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak both scored twice for the Bruins. Jeremy Swayman earned his zeroth shutout of the season with an impressive 29 saves. New York is playing their last of five games at home after a 4-3 overtime loss against the Capitals on Monday.
Sebastian Aho, Matt Martin, and Hudson Fasching scored one apiece for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin only had 31 saves on 35 shots against (.885%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Bruins won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-3 (SO) victory in December. Jake DeBrusk led Boston with three points (2G 1A). Noah Dobson (1G 1A), Josh Bailey (1G 1A), and Brock Nelson (0G 2A) each had two points to lead New York. Linus Ullmark got the win despite saving only 23 of 26 shots (.884%).
FACING OFF
Boston is averaging 3.81 goals per game for the season, best in the NHL, and they are taking on an Islanders team that is allowing 2.69 goals a game (8th). Meanwhile, New York has found the net 3.02 times a game on average, 23rd in the league, and the Bruins are holding opponents to a league-best 2.12 goals per game.
Boston averages more shots per game (34.2) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth, while the team’s 11.3% shooting percentage is fourth. New York has proven to be one of the league’s better shot-stopping teams, ranking No. 2 with a team save percentage of .922%.
The Bruins’ 27.89% power play percentage is the third-best in the league, while the Islanders rank 27th with a conversion rate of 17.83%. Boston has been equally adept at penalty killing, boasting the league’s highest PK% at 86.18%. New York ranks eighth at 82.71%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 62 points this season, fifth-most in the NHL, Pastrnak is the top skater for the Bruins. He is among the league leaders with 35 goals (2nd) and has added 27 assists. In the net, Ullmark (23-2-1) is Boston’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 1.92 GAA, best in the league, and a .936% save percentage, also best.
Mathew Barzal and Nelson lead the Islanders in scoring with 41 and 39 points, respectively. Barzal has 11 goals and 30 assists in 44 games, while Nelson has 15 goals and 24 assists in 45 games. Sorokin (15-14-2) has the best goals against average for New York at 2.25, third-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .927%, second-best.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston has won four in a row away from home this season. New York is 13-7-2 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Boston Bruins (-200)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
