Just as they were in the season-opening loss to Washington, the Bruins were flat again this past Thursday and must have a solid bounce-back game like they did a week ago in a 7-2 win over Carolina.
So far, Boston has had a Jekyll and Hyde-fashioned season, and they are going to need more Jekyll in their game if they are to be true contenders. This is another gut-check game for the Bruins at the TD Garden, and if they find their winning ways once again, the Bruins can feed off it and carry it into future games.
When and Where
Saturday, Oct. 10, 7:05 p.m. ET (NESN)
TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
Records
Bruins (1-2-0), 4th in the Northeast Division, tied for 10th in the Eastern Conference
Islanders (0-0-2), Tied for 4th in Atlantic Division, tied for 10th in the Eastern Conference
Head to Head
This is the first game of the season between the Islanders and Bruins. Last season, the Bruins were 4-0-0 against the Islanders.
The Bruins lead the all-time series 67-45-21-3.
The Islanders and Bruins will meet three more times this season – Nov.16, Dec. 12 and March 6.
Skinny
The Bruins are scoring 2.67 goals per game and surprisingly allowing 3.67 goals per game.
The Bruins' power play was a woeful 0-for-6 on Thursday and is now just 4-for-19 on the season. They are scoring at a 21 percent clip on the man advantage.
The Bruins' penalty kill wasn’t up to par, either, as the Ducks went 2-for-2. Boston is now killing off penalties at a 68.8 percent clip.
The Islanders are scoring 2.5 goals per game and allowing 3 goals per game.
The Islanders are scoring at a 30 percent clip this season.
The Islanders have killed off every power play against them thus far.
Projected Lineups
Bruins
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
| Milan Lucic | Marc Savard | Marco Sturm |
| Blake Wheeler | David Krejci | Michael Ryder |
| Mark Recchi | Patrice Bergeron | Chuck Kobasew |
| Shawn Thornton | Steve Begin | Byron Bitz |
| Defenseman | |
|---|---|
| Zdeno Chara | Derek Morris |
| Andrew Ference | Dennis Wideman |
| Mark Stuart-Matt Hunwick | Johnny Boychuk |
| Goaltenders |
|---|
| Tim Thomas |
| Tukka Rask |
Islanders
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Moulson | John Tavares | Kyle Okposo |
| Rob Schremp | Josh Bailey | Trent Hunter |
| Sean Bergenheim | Doug Weight | Jon Sim |
| Blake Comeau | Richard Park | Tim Jackman |
| Defenseman | |
|---|---|
| Mark Streit | Bruno Gervais |
| Brendan Witt | Richard Martinek |
| Andy Sutton | Freddy Meyer |
| Goaltenders |
|---|
| Dwayne Roloson |
| Martin Biron |
Stat Sheet
Bruins
Marc Savard leads the Bruins with four points. Savard has a goal and three assists.
Center Steve Begin has three assists in the first three games.
Winger Marco Sturm has three points with two goals and one assist.
Islanders
Rookie sensation John Tavares and linemate Matt Moulson are tied for the team lead with three points apiece (a goal and two assists).
Forwards Trent Hunter and Kyle Okposo and defenseman Mark Streit each have two points with a goal and an assist.
Goaltender Matchup
Bruins
Tim Thomas is 1-2-0 with a 4.00 GAA and .868 save percentage.
Tuukka Rask has yet to start but could see action Saturday night.
Islanders
Dwayne Roloson is 0-0-1 with a 2.77 GAA and .929 save percentage.
Martin Biron is 0-0-1 with a 3.00 GAA and .893 save percentage
Black and Blue
Bruins
No injuries to report at this time.
Islanders
Forward Frans Nielsen is on injured reserve with a groin injury.
Former Bruins forward Jeremy Reich is on injured reserve and out indefinitely with a broken left wrist.
Forward Pascal Morency is suspended for the first five games of the season after leaving the bench during an on-ice altercation.
Goaltender and Winthrop native Rick DiPietro is out indefinitely after offseason knee surgery.
This Date In Bruins History
Hall of Famer Phil Esposito had a five-point night with a hat trick and two assists against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 10, 1973. Espo also scored the game-winning-goal in the Bruins' 6-4 win.
Overheard
"Well, I think we need to grab their attention right now. We are looking for commitment. We are looking for effort [and] attitude. I think all those things put together is what needs to happen in order for us to be the team we should be."
–Bruins head coach Claude Julien after putting his team through a rigorous practice that included sprints at the end on Friday
Press Box
Bruins
Claude Julien sent a message to his struggling squad Friday in a grueling practice.
The Bruins are pulling disappearing acts lately.
Tuukka Rask could get the nod between the pipes Saturday night as Thomas is struggling.
Apparently, some Bruins fans have not been able to stomach this difficult start to the season.
Islanders
The Islanders aren’t happy with just getting points in losses. They want wins.
The Islanders lost a tough one in their last game at Ottawa, 3-2 in overtime. It was the team’s second overtime loss in as many games.
Here’s a good Islanders blog by former Isles PR guru Chris Botta
Here’s a great chat between “Puck Daddy” and Islanders legend Pat LaFontaine
NHL
Oilers head coach Pat Quinn was fined for his comments following a questionable Jarome Iginla hit on Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray. Here’s the hit for you to judge whether it was dirty
The Red Wings got some bad news Friday. "The Mule," Johan Franzen, will be sidelined at least four months with a torn ACL.
Flyers forward Scott Hartnell is in the Halloween spirit. He was a vampire in a game against the Penguins on Thursday.
Outlook
It’s only the fourth game of the season, so the B's aren't hitting the panic button, but fans are scratching their heads already because the Bruins have not resembled the team that roared off to one of their best starts ever last season. The Black and Gold need to get their acts together once again Saturday night and play with desire, commitment and passion. If they don’t, they will lose to this young, pesky squad that is trying to realize the potential of raw talent they have throughout the lineup right now.
On paper, this looks like an easy game for the Bruins. But while they swept the series over the worst team in the conference last season, this is a more hungry and more confident bunch. Unfortunately, hunger seems to be something the Bruins have lacked thus far, and they may have come into this season with too much confidence, thinking they could seemingly glide to the top where most pundits have picked them to be in the spring.
Well, it’s not the spring yet, and the Bruins need to start working on all cylinders at every position. Don’t be surprised if Julien decides to give defenseman Johnny Boychuk a shot and throws rookie goaltender Tuukka Rask between the pipes for his first start of the season.
As Blake Wheeler put it Friday: “You know we’ve been saying all the right things but not doing them, and it’s about time we do.”
Wheeler is right. Actions speak louder than words.
