Islanders at Bruins
The New York Islanders are sitting at rock bottom in the Eastern Conference and are showing little signs of breaking out of an ugly tailspin as they prepare to visit the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. The Islanders are mired in a five-game losing streak in which they have allowed a whopping 24 goals since posting impressive back-to-back wins over the New York Rangers and St. Louis.
While New York is last in the Metropolitan Division despite a favorable schedule that includes a league-best 20 home games, coach Jack Capuano isn't blaming a lack of effort by his team. "When teams lose it, they start quitting, there's no emotion. That hasn't happened with this group," Capuano said following a 6-2 drubbing by Ottawa on Sunday. Boston was in a swoon of its own, losing three in a row and five of six before blanking the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 on Sunday. Although that win pushed the Bruins to a pedestrian 8-8-0 at TD Garden, New York has won only twice in 11 road games (2-7-2).
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus2 (New York), NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (11-14-6): One area of alarming concern for New York is its continuing struggles on the penalty kill, allowing a staggering eight power-play goals on only 15 opportunities during the five-game rut. The Islanders also have failed to take advantage of the extra skater, converting on 1 of 12 chances during that span. "When your special teams is at the bottom of the league and your goaltending is not kicking where it was last year, it's a recipe for a losing streak," Capuano said.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (17-13-3): Boston again will be without leading goal scorer David Pastrnak (elbow), who is second in the league to Sidney Crosby with 19 tallies. Aside from Tuukka Rask's fourth shutout against Los Angeles, the Bruins received their lone goal from Jimmy Hayes, who noted only his second tally and second point of the season. "I liked his game a lot better,” coach Claude Julien said. "You’re hoping a guy has kind of turned the corner, and is starting to find their game here a little bit.”
OVERTIME
1. During its five-game skid, New York has been outscored 12-0 in the third period and overtime.
2. Rask is 10-3-1 with a 2.14 goals-against average versus New York.
3. Islanders F Casey Cizikas (upper body) is expected to miss a "couple of weeks," Capuano said.