New York @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 29, 2018 ) NY Islanders 1, Boston 2

After finally snapping a 14-game losing streak against Washington, the Boston Bruins will face the coach who guided the Capitals to the Stanley Cup championship last season. Barry Trotz led the Capitals to division titles in each of his last three seasons and now has the New York Islanders sitting in first place in the Metropolitan as they prepare to visit the Bruins on Tuesday night.

New York rallied for three goals in the final 6:14 to notch a 4-2 victory over Los Angeles on Saturday, extending its point streak to eight games (6-0-2) -- the team's longest since a 10-game run in 2014-15. "If you don't show up to work in this business you're not going to have success," Trotz said. "It's still a workman's league. You still have to put the work boots on." Boston ended its nearly five-year hex against Washington in memorable fashion with a 1-0 victory behind Tuukka Rask, who became the winningest goaltender in franchise history with No. 253. “This might be a win that gets us going and trending in the right direction,” defenseman Charlie McAvoy said after the Bruins halted a three-game slide (0-1-2).

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus2 (New York), NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (30-15-6): Robin Lehner was named the NHL's Second Star of the Month for January after posting a 6-1-1 record with a 1.73 goals-against average and continued his stellar play by turning aside 34 of 36 shots against the Kings to improve to 12-1-1 in his last 14 decisions. "He played awesome, again," New York defenseman Johnny Boychuk said. "He's been playing awesome all year. Both our goaltenders and they'll have to continue to do that to have success." Defenseman Ryan Pulock had a hand in the final three goals in Saturday's victory, become the first Islanders' blue-liner to collect three assists in a period since 2007.

ABOUT THE BRUINS (28-17-7): Center Patrice Bergeron, who was sidelined by injury in Boston's 2-1 shootout win over the visiting Islanders on Nov. 29, will reach a major milestone Tuesday by becoming the fifth player in franchise history to appear in 1,000 games with Boston. A four-time Selke Trophy winner as the league's top defensive forward, Bergeron also reached 30 goals for the fourth time in his career last season. "It's been special," said Bergeron, who has played all 15 seasons in Boston. "Obviously ... playing 1,000 games for the same organization is something that I'm very proud of and I think it's special. That adds to it for sure."

OVERTIME

1. The Islanders have permitted two goals or fewer in nine straight games.

2. Boston is riding a five-game point streak (4-0-1) in the series.

3. New York is 16-3-2 since Dec. 15, the best record in the league in that span.

PREDICTION: Islanders 3, Bruins 2