Just about everything was in the Islanders’ favor for advancing to the Stanley Cup semifinals as they hosted the Boston Bruins Wednesday night in Game 6 of their second-round series at Nassau Coliseum.
Barry Trotz’s team held a 3-2 advantage over the Bruins in the best-of-seven series, meaning a win would give them the series and move them on to a rematch with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the defending Stanley Cup champion, who beat them in the Eastern Conference Finals last September in the Edmonton bubble.
Wednesday’s game was to be played in a raucous Coliseum, where Trotz would have the last line change — and thus be able to get the on-ice matchups he wanted.