Three key matchups for Game 6 between New York Islanders, Boston Bruins
These three matchups will be key to deciding Game 6 between the New York Islanders and the Boston Bruins tonight.
All eyes will be on Nassau Coliseum later (7:30 p.m. ET) as the Boston Bruins look to stave off elimination and force a Game 7 in this Second Round matchup, while the New York Islanders will hope to finish the job on home ice and book a Semifinals showdown against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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It should be an absolute doozy between two teams who boast different strengths and excel in opposite areas, and the atmosphere inside the Coliseum should be one to savor with the home crowd hoping to see their beloved Isles move on to the final four.
We’ve already taken a look at the three most intriguing storylines to follow in tonight’s Stanley Cup Playoffs showdown, but there will be so much more to keep an eye on once you really get down in the weeds of the game.
Therefore, we have also decided to delve into the matchups that will play a huge factor in the outcome of Game 6 and the battles that will either see the Isles advance or the Bruins force a Game 7.
Let’s delve right in…
Three Key Matchups to watch in Game 6 between New York Islanders & Boston Bruins
3. Semyon Varlamov Vs. Tuukka Rask
It is the battle of the goalies in Game 6 as Semyon Varlamov looks to continue his stellar postseason so far, while Tuukka Rask will need to bounce-back from a tough outing in Game 5 in order to give the Boston Bruins any chance of forcing a Game 7.
You can’t win championships without goaltending and, if the Isles are to go all the way this season, then they will have their exceptional goaltending to thank and Varlamov in particular, who has been his dominant self throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs so far.
He has a .925 Save Percentage and a 2.72 Goals Against Average in six postseason starts, while he has stood on his head in this series with the Bruins dominating at 5-on-5, although they’ve not been able to translate that dominance into wins.
For instance, Varlamov stopped 40 of the 44 shots he faced in Game 5 and he was crucial to the Isles withstanding a barrage of attack from the B’s, and the Islanders will need more heroics from their reliable starter if they are to wrap this series up tonight.
On the other hand, Rask is coming off a rough outing in Game 5 where he allowed four goals on just 16 shots through two periods before being replaced by rookie Jeremy Swayman, who was making his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.
After shaking off some nagging injuries, Rask has been declared good to go in Game 6 but whether he is fully healthy and at the peak of his powers remains to be seen, but he will need to outshine Varlamov if the Bruins are to force a Game 7 and stay alive in the postseason.
2. Mathew Barzal Vs. Charlie McAvoy
It is fair to say that Mathew Barzal is really starting to hit his stride for the New York Islanders this postseason, scoring in his last three games and he appears to be nearing the peak of his powers at just the right time.
That is scary news for the Boston Bruins, and also scary news for the Tampa Bay Lightning if the Isles do advance, and Barzal will have a major say on how tonight’s mouthwatering postseason showdown goes down.
What is really impressive is the fact that Barzal, who has nine points (3 G, 6 A) in total in the Playoffs, has shown a newfound maturity to his game, impacting the game in all three zones and really putting this Islander team on his back.
In short, Barzal is developing into the kind of leader John Tavares was for this franchise and those types of players have the ability to deliver in the biggest moments with the pressure firmly on, which the former will look to do in Game 6 tonight.
Standing in his way, however, will be Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who has really broken out this year and is fulfilling the lofty potential he entered the National Hockey League with.
With Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara gone, McAvoy has elevated his game and has risen to become the leader of this Bruins’ blueline, recording 30 points (5 G, 25 A) in 51 regular season games while averaging a career-high 24:00 minutes of total ice time.
McAvoy plays in all situations for the Bruins and he has been an absolute horse in the postseason so far, averaging 26:47 of total ice time while recording 19 blocked shots and laying on 28 hits, in addition to putting up 11 points (1 G, 10 A) in just 10 games.
Needing to win or face their season ending far earlier than they would hope, the B’s will need McAvoy to play big minutes in Game 6 and also be out on the ice against the Islanders’ top line, which includes Barzal who he will need to put the shackles on and slow down if Boston is to force a Game 7.
1. The Perfection Line against the Islanders’ deadly defense
This will without doubt be both the most important and the most mouthwatering matchup in Game 6, given that it is the key to both teams enjoying success and getting the job done.
Firstly, the New York Islanders have morphed into a well-oiled, structured and disciplined machine under General Manager Lou Lamoriello and Head Coach Barry Trotz, becoming one of the hardest teams to score on in the entire NHL.
Ranked 2nd in Goals Against Per Game (2.23) during the regular season, the Isles will always play hard and responsible hockey, especially in their own zone, and they can rely on superb goaltending when things do break down in the defensive zone as was the case in Game 5.
Given how tough they are to play against, this is the ideal sort of game for the Islanders with all the pressure firmly on the Boston Bruins heading into Game 6, and if New York advance tonight then you will know their defense delivered the goods once again.
However, they won’t be in for an easy night given that The Perfection Line is due for an utter explosion in this series, and you can bet any amount that the formidable top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak will be locked and loaded and ready to go tonight.
Pastrnak, who has 14 points (7 G, 7 A) already this postseason, may have missed an empty net this series but that won’t happen again and he’s built for the big stage, while Bergeron knows what it takes to win with the pressure really on and Marchand will look to do whatever he can to get under the skin of his opponent and really unsettle that Islanders blueline.
If the trio can make a statement early and really do some damage in the first period, then that will set the Bruins up nicely for the rest of the game and they have the firepower and the offensive depth needed to outlast the Islanders in a shootout.
Next. Key Storylines in Game 6 between Isles, Bruins. dark
However, if the Isles can put the shackles on The Perfection Line, stay disciplined and limit any high-danger chances against, then the Boston Bruins will have their backs against the wall and will become desperate the longer Game 6 goes on, which will only play in the hand of the New York Islanders who are on the cusp of advancing.