Three key matchups for Game 6 between New York Islanders, Boston Bruins

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.

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.