Islanders at Bruins
THE STORY: Time is running short for the Boston Bruins if they are to have any hope of catching the New York Rangers atop the Eastern Conference. Boston faces a New York daily double this weekend, hosting the Islanders on Saturday before visiting the Rangers on Sunday. It could represent the Bruins' last gasp to make a run at the Rangers, but for that to happen, they will first have to win back-to-back games for the first time in seven weeks. The Islanders arrive at TD Garden having lost three straight.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, MSG+, NESN
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (26-29-9): To salvage the finale of a four-game road trip, New York will need a better effort than when the teams met in November, when the Isles were bludgeoned by Boston 6-2 and 6-0 in a 13-day span. G Anders Nilsson made his NHL debut in the 6-0 loss, coming on in relief of Rick DiPietro. He was called up from the AHL this week after going 10-0-1 in his last 11. LW Josh Bailey has three goals in the last two games.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (38-21-3): David Krejci notched his second career hat trick, including the tying goal and game-winner in overtime to rally Boston to a 4-3 win at New Jersey on Thursday. Krejci’s outburst matched the number of goals he had scored in the previous 23 games and assured Boston will remain atop the Northeast Division entering Saturday’s game. Veterans Brian Rolston and Mike Mottau, acquired from the Islanders at the trade deadline, could face their former teammates. Mottau was a healthy scratch Thursday.
OVERTIME:
1. Boston, which has won six of the last seven meetings against the Islanders, trails the Rangers by 10 points entering Saturday.
2. Isles C John Tavares failed to score for the second straight game. New York is 6-17-6 when he is held off the scoresheet.
3. The Bruins are 25-0-0 when leading after two periods.