:isles: @ :bruins: Preview
ISLANDERS (26-29-9) at BRUINS (38-21-3)
TV: MSG PLUS, NESN (HD)
LAST 10: New York 3-6-1, Boston 5-4-1.
Season Series: March comes in with a Bruins-Islanders matchup and goes out with one, as they meet one final time on the final day of the month. It was all Bruins in the first two games back in November, when they scored six goals each as part of the stretch that overcame a slow October start and vaulted them to the top of the Northeast Division and the League's A-list. For the Islanders, the two losses were part of a 2-10-4 slump from which they have yet to recover.
Big Story: It's a good thing November and December were so productive for the Bruins, because they're just 10-10-2 since Jan. 14. Back then, they were one point out of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but that margin that has since grown to nine points with the Ottawa Senators hanging just behind the whole time. The Islanders actually have a better record in that stretch at 11-9-3, the difference of course being the Isles' maddening inability to get on a roll, taking a step forward and two steps back all season long. They're still theoretically in the playoff race at nine points out with 18 games to go, but they're 1-4-1 in their last six games and have a five-game road losing streak.
ISLANDERS (26-29-9) at BRUINS (38-21-3)
TV: MSG PLUS, NESN (HD)
LAST 10: New York 3-6-1, Boston 5-4-1.
Season Series: March comes in with a Bruins-Islanders matchup and goes out with one, as they meet one final time on the final day of the month. It was all Bruins in the first two games back in November, when they scored six goals each as part of the stretch that overcame a slow October start and vaulted them to the top of the Northeast Division and the League's A-list. For the Islanders, the two losses were part of a 2-10-4 slump from which they have yet to recover.
Big Story: It's a good thing November and December were so productive for the Bruins, because they're just 10-10-2 since Jan. 14. Back then, they were one point out of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but that margin that has since grown to nine points with the Ottawa Senators hanging just behind the whole time. The Islanders actually have a better record in that stretch at 11-9-3, the difference of course being the Isles' maddening inability to get on a roll, taking a step forward and two steps back all season long. They're still theoretically in the playoff race at nine points out with 18 games to go, but they're 1-4-1 in their last six games and have a five-game road losing streak.
