Bruins @ Islanders

Who will WIN this matchup?

Boston Bruins (40-13-12)

@ New York Islanders (35-20-8)

Starting Goalies:

Tuukka Rask (BOS): Confirmed

Semyon Varlamov (NYI): Unconfirmed

Current odds:

Boston Bruins: (-145)

New York Islanders: (+125)

• The New York Islanders were not able to get over the top in a high-profile matchup against one division leader, but they will hope for more success against another on their home ice. After suffering their second straight defeat in overtime at St. Louis on Thursday night, the Islanders return home to take on the NHL-leading Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon. New York was unable to protect a two-goal lead against reigning Stanley Cup champion St. Louis and lost for the sixth time in eight games (2-4-2), a slide that dropped the team down to fourth place in the Metropolitan Division. “I guess you can say you got a point, but this late in the season you want to try and get two,” forward Jordan Eberle said. “You take the one, but some things to correct, obviously.”

• Boston has dominated the series against the Islanders, owning a nine-game point streak overall (8-0-1) and winning nine straight on New York’s home ice, including a 3-2 overtime victory on Jan. 11. Coach Bruce Cassidy said the Bruins “needed to be better and we were” after ended an ugly two-game skid in which they allowed 14 goals by squeezing out a 4-3 victory over Dallas on Thursday night.

• Former teammates Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase were in the lineup together for the first time since they were acquired from Anaheim and were paired of a line with No. 2 center David Krejci. Kase had two shots on goal and played over 15 minutes in his first game action since Feb. 11 while Ritchie bounced back from a lackluster Boston debut by scoring a goal and setting up David Pastrnak’s game-winning tally. “It was good. My energy levels were higher and I definitely felt better with my legs,” Ritchie said.

• Jean-Gabriel Pageau has wasted no time making an impact with New York since he was acquired at the trade deadline from Ottawa, scoring in his each his first two games to push his goal total to a career-high 26. Eberle also scored against the Blues — his fifth goal in four games — to extend his point streak to five while Mathew Barzal collected two assists for the third straight game to give him eight during a five-game streak. Barzal also has two goals and an assist in both meetings versus Boston this season.

• Bruins G Tuukka Rask, who suffered his first regulation home loss last time out, is 16-5-1 with a 1.97 goals-against average versus New York.

• New York is bidding to earn points in three straight games against Boston for the first time since 2009.

• Pastrnak has eight of his league-best 46 goals in his last eight games.