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.