Bruins at Islanders
THE STORY: The Boston Bruins clinched a postseason berth without even taking the ice on Friday. The Bruins will look to strengthen their position toward a Northeast Division title on Saturday afternoon when they visit the New York Islanders. Coach Jack Capuano's club has embraced its role of spoiler by winning three in a row and five of six.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, NHLN, NESN
ABOUT THE BRUINS (45-28-4): To add injury to insult during Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to Washington, defenseman Adam McQuaid was driven into the boards by Jason Chimera and received a laceration over his eye. Julien admitted on Friday that McQuaid will not make the road trip. Fellow blue-liner Dennis Seidenberg is still awaiting the approval from the team doctors to return to the ice after he developed an infection following a cut on his leg. Captain Zdeno Chara has been shouldering the load with three goals and four assists in his last six contests.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (33-33-11): Josh Bailey collected two goals and three assists to help New York complete a home-and-home sweep of Pittsburgh with its second straight 5-3 victory on Thursday. Riding a six-game point streak, Bailey has registered eight points in his last two contests - a stark contrast to the 23 he recorded in his previous 73. Bailey also scored in the team's 3-2 win over Boston on March 3. Fellow first-round selection Kyle Okposo is riding a four-game goal streak, but he has yet to score in 12 career meetings with Boston.
OVERTIME:
1. Despite the injuries, the Bruins continue to be stingy defensively, having allowed just 12 goals in their last seven games (5-1-1).
2. New York's Matt Martin is two hits shy of the NHL's record of 356, set by Minnesota's Cal Clutterbuck in the 2008-09 campaign.