The Bruins return to the Garden after their brief visit to New York. Against the Rangers the defense, well, looked like this:
We expect that to not happen again tonight against the NY Islanders. A Claude Julien team just doesn't have long stretches of awful defense like that. Expect tonight's defense to be a lot more like this:
The Islanders are currently doing pretty well. They're 2-1 and are 5th in the conference, 2nd in the Atlantic. They've lost to the Devils but beat Lightning and the Leafs and have netted 12 goals in three games — most coming from Tampa and Toronto. They mustered just one goal against the Devils, so they've yet to put up great offensive numbers against teams with actual starting goaltenders and solid defenders.
Both teams PK is a perfect 100%. Boston's PP, as well all know, is asbysmal and sitting at 7%. The Islanders PP is 23%.
Boston has won 3 of the last 4 games against the Islanders. In those three games the Bs put up six goals. Be nice to see more of that tonight and maybe a few PPGs to make us all feel better about life.
In net for the Islanders is expected to be old Boston resident Rick DiPietro.
Rick DiPietro makes his season debut tonight for #Isles against Boston.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) January 25, 2013
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Insert injury joke here. And this.
Do you think DePietro forgets he's in the NHL sometimes?
More after the jump…
Tonight could be the return of Seidenberg.
Julien says he's more "optimistic than pessimistic" but Seids will be a game time decision.
And the drama that is 2010 fifth-overall pick Nino Niederreiter continues. He's not happy with the NYI organization and wants a trade. Boo hoo.
Media
TV: NESN
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
Online Feeds: Here
Projected Roster
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Tyler Seguin
Chris Bourque-Chris Kelly-Rich Peverley
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Andrew Ference-Dougie Hamilton
Aaron Johnson-Adam McQuaid
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin
If Seidenberg is in, Johnson will be out and we expect Seid of Ham to be united (props to Jeff Israel for the pairing name).
Know Your Enemy:
Game Day Links
– Haggs: Bruins still working out PP kinks… no kidding?
– The Bruins Opening Video for those who haven't seen it
– Funny post from Lighthouse Hockey, demanding a trade from SB Nation.
– Lots of people are butthurt over this goal celebration
– The Rangers thing women don't know about hockey, so we did a spoof for newbie Bruins fans.
Game Day Video/Pick
Sadly we won't see these two go at it today since Konopka is no longer an Islander.
Time to Go!
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