The second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs opens Saturday night in Boston, where the Bruins will host the New York Islanders at TD Garden.
The atmosphere at the Garden should be electric. Not only is a new series beginning, the arena will be at near-full capacity for the first time since March of 2020. The last Bruins playoff game at TD Garden with a full crowd (or close to it) was Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.
So, it's safe to say home ice advantage could be a real factor for the Bruins on Saturday night.
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The Bruins should be well-rested, too, after eliminating the Washington Capitals in the first round six days ago. The Islanders enter this series after beating the favored Pittsburgh Penguins in a six-game Round 1 series.
Bruins vs. Islanders: Power ranking the lines, pairings, goalies
The last time these teams met in the playoffs was the 1983 Wales Conference Final, when the Islanders won in six games en route to their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup championship.
Which team will take a step closer to the semifinal round? Here's when and how to watch Bruins vs. Islanders Game 1 on your favorite device.
Boston Bruins
When: Saturday, May 29 at 8 p.m. ET
TV Channel: NBC 10 Boston
Live Stream: NBC Sports