On paper, the Bruins looked to be the Islanders’ biggest obstacle on the road back to the Eastern Conference finals.
Then the teams took the ice on Saturday night in Boston for Game 1 of a second-round playoff series, and it was evident just what a tall task this will be.
Led by their vaunted "Perfection Line," the Bruins pressured the Islanders early and often and won, 5-2. Only another big effort from rookie goaltender Ilya Sorokin prevented a more lopsided score.
The Islanders are a resilient, experienced team, and one loss will not derail them emotionally.