Islanders vs. Bruins Game 4 Gameday News: They have been here before

Tonight in Game 4, the New York Islanders will look to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole to the Boston Bruins.

The Islanders fell behind 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. They responded by rattling off: a convincing win at home in Game 4 to tie the series; a fairly lucky win on the road in Game 5 to take control of the series; and a back-and-forth win back at home in Game 6. Perhaps the Islanders can follow that blueprint to reach the semifinals.

But for now, in this second-round series with the Bruins, they need to take it one game at a time. If the Isles win tonight, the series becomes a best-of-three. That is the goal at this moment.

Get hyped. As Mathew Barzal says in this video, they have been in this situation before.

Islanders vs. Bruins Playoff News

• The team site previews Game 4.
• The Islanders remain confident, even trailing 2-1 in the series. [Newsday]
• Despite everything that I wrote above about “one game at a time,” Game 4 is pretty urgent. Expect to see Semyon Varlamov in net, based on Barry Trotz’s comments. [The Athletic]
• We should also expect to see the same lineup in Game 4. [Newsday]
• Thankfully, Barzal has begun to look “dangerous” in this series. [Newsday]
• Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Kyle Palmieri, each a Trade Deadline acquisition, continue to prove their worth during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. [Islanders]
• How did such a terrific Game 3, in which the Islanders mostly silenced the Perfection Line, end with such a whimper? That’s hockey, baby. [Brooks @ NY Post]
• Even though they lost, the Islanders can appreciate how fun was Game 3. [Newsday]
• Boston defenseman Brandon Carlo left Game 3 after being dazed by a Cal Clutterbuck hit—a hit that even our Bruins fan counterparts deemed legal. [SCOC] Carlo’s status for tonight remains unclear; though, if it is a concussion, as we suspect, I cannot imagine that he would be good to go, especially with his concussion history. [NHL]
• LISTEN: The Newsday crew analyzed Game 3 in podcast form. I think that they have given up on trying to guess which goalie will start. [Island Ice Ep. 94]
• Not this playoff run, but relevant: According to Stan Fischler, pain and progress were inseparable during the 1981 Cup run. [Maven’s Memories]

Beyond Long Island and New England

Two playoff games last night: A shorthanded goal by Tyler Toffoli stood as the difference, as Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens shut out the Winnipeg Jets, 1-0, in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead back to Quebec. Also, the Vegas Golden Knights saved their season by scoring the tying and game-winning goals 45 seconds apart in the last five minutes of Game 3. The Colorado Avalanche lead that series 2-1.

• Avs coach Jared Bednar was displeased, to put it mildly, with his team’s effort in Games 2 and 3. [ESPN]
• Jets center Mark Scheifele called “excessive” his four-game suspension for decking Canadiens forward Jake Evans. He began serving it last night. [NHL]
• The Carolina Hurricanes may have Vincent Trocheck and Warren Foegele back in the lineup for Game 4 today against the Tampa Bay Lightning. [NHL]
• Zach Parise this season handled his diminished role with the Minnesota Wild, according to GM Bill Guerin. [ESPN]
• Penguins center Evgeni Malkin had knee surgery and may miss the start of next season. [NHL]
• Might the Buffalo Sabres deal Sam Reinhart to the Columbus Blue Jackets? [THN on SI]
• New York Rangers GM Chris Drury should look to the final eight teams this season for lessons on how to build a team. The Islanders get high marks for character and culture. [The Athletic]