The Bruins open up another road trip on Long Island on Friday looking to snap a three-game losing streak. They were in the same position a month ago, and a 6-3 win over the Islanders in New York kick-started a seven-game win streak.
But the Bruins know it won't be easy to repeat that scenario against an improved Islanders squad.
"They're a young team, and with time they get better," Bruins coach Claude Julien told reporters on Friday morning. "One thing we know is there's a lot of skill on that hockey club. Right now, [lack of] experience is probably what cost them early in the season. But there's young players getting better and there's also players fighting for jobs and when those things happen, you get the best out of everybody."
New York remains last in the Atlantic Division after a horrid start that saw them sitting at 5-18-5 in the middle of December. They're 21-14-5 since, including 3-0-2 in March, and are no longer pushovers.
"People are going to say they're playing with no pressure right now, they just go out and play," Julien said. "There's a certain element to that, but at the same time you have to give them credit where credit is due. They've been through a lot as far as injuries are concerned. They've managed to get through and continue to win some hockey games. I like the way they compete."
After playing Thursday night, the Bruins did not hold a morning skate on Friday. The only Bruins who took the ice were forward Tyler Seguin and goalie Tuukka Rask. Their presence getting in some extra work, coupled with Julien's statement that no lineups changes were planned for the game would indicate that pair will not see action in this one.
Seguin was a healthy scratch Thursday for the second time in four games. He has no points in the last six games he's played and no shots in his last three. He's also a minus-2 over those six games.
It's still possible Rask could get the nod in this one after Tim Thomas started Thursday against Buffalo. Rask has started both of the previous games against the Islanders this year, picking up two of his nine wins in those games with a 33-save effort in a 5-2 win at the Garden on Dec. 9 and a 34-save performance in a 6-3 win on Long Island on Feb. 17.
While the rest of the Bruins rested in Uniondale, injured defensemen Andrew Ference (lower body) and Shane Hnidy (shoulder) skated back in Wilmington. Steven Kampfer (concussion) was scheduled to ride the stationary bike again, but Julien had not heard any reports on Kampfer, who suffered a setback in his recovery after experiencing headaches following his first attempt on the bike on Wednesday.
The Islanders held just an optional skate themselves this morning. Blake Comeau, who missed practice Thursday with a sore neck, did skate and will be a game-time decision. The Isles would have to call up a replacement if he can't go, as they don't have any other healthy skaters available.
Enforcer Trevor Gillies continues to serve his 10-game suspension while forward Trent Hunter (knee) and defensemen Mark Eaton (hip) and Mike Mottau (hip/eye) are out for the season. Goalies Kevin Poulin (knee) and Rick DiPietro (facial fractures) are also likely done for the year, while forward Doug Weight (back) is out indefinitely. Defenseman Mark Streit (shoulder) has yet to play this season but may return later this month.
Al Montoya will get the start in goal for New York. He's 6-2-2 with a 2.02 GAA and a .927 save percentage since being acquired from Phoenix for a sixth-round pick after DiPietro was injured. He came on in relief of Nathan Lawson in the last game against Boston, stopping 15 of the 16 shots he faced in 37:12.
Projected Bruins lines
Forwards
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Rich Peverley
Mark Recchi-Chris Kelly-Michael Ryder
Daniel Paille-Greg Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Defense
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Tomas Kaberle-Adam McQuaid
Matt Bartkowski-Dennis Seidenberg
Goalies
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
Scratches: Tyler Seguin, Steven Kampfer (concussion), Andrew Ference (lower body), Shane Hnidy (shoulder)
Projected Islanders lines
Forwards
Matt Moulson-John Tavares-P.A. Parenteau
Michael Grabner-Frans Nielsen-Kyle Okposo
Matt Martin-Josh Bailey-Blake Comeau
Michael Haley-Zenon Konopka-Justin DiBenedetto
Defense
Andrew Macdonald-Travis Hamonic
Milan Jurcina-Bruno Gervais
Jack Hillen-Radek Martinek
Goalies
Al Montoya
Nathan Lawson
Scratches: Trevor Gillies (suspension)
