Cal Clutterbuck and the Islanders are looking to jump out to a two-game lead in the series against the Panthers.
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After a sloppy effort to open the playoffs, the Florida Panthers played much better defensively in Friday night’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round to even their series with the New York Islanders at one.
This is a series that is tailor-made for the Islanders. Often the quicker and more patient team can leave the physical opponent exasperated, but this time Im taking the Islanders in six games.I think their aggressive-but-disciplined style will wear down Barkov and prove too much for Jagr at 43. But New York came back a third time, tying the score 3-3 with just 22 seconds left in the second period on Tavares’ goal. “Their skilled players got them, and buried them”.
How they handled it is what helped them survive Game 1 and leaving the ice as the victors.
Which team will win this series? There’s pressure now on the Panthers to respond after a deflating loss. “Maybe that will benefit us going into Game 2”.
How the Panthers handle it will determine how far this series goes.
Referee Dave Jackson gifted the Panthers a power play just over a minute later, mistakenly calling Matt Martin for a slash when it was Campbell who broke his own stick trying to check Martin.
Smith and Bjugstad each had one goal and one assist. “It was the little things – bad line change, power-play goal”. The series is now tied 1-1 going back to Brooklyn. The resulting powerplay ended up putting the Panthers 2-1 up on the Islanders. The Islanders have been there before.
For the second night in a row, Florida struck first, this time with 4:32 elapsed in the first period. His second goal, which came with 13:04 left in the third period, closed New York’s lead to 5-4. As the seconds ticked off, he made a spectacular save on Jaromir Jagr to prevent the game from being tied once again.
“Tavares finished the night with a goal and two assists”. On the blueline, they’re just as good of workhorses, headlined by Travis Harmonic, Nick Leddy, and Johnny Boychuck and experienced vet Marek Zidlicky. If JT plays like that in every game then the Panthers will continue to struggle to contain the number 91. He made consecutive saves on shots from Brayden Schenn and Jakub Voracek in the first period to set the tone. Our team and coaches from around the league know we’re a good team.
The Panthers came out of the interval hungry. Deficits does not have to be big for them. Less than a shot-for per game separates these two teams on the whole, with the slight advantage to the Islanders.
The reality is that Barclays Center is now the Islanders’ home, but while the building has all the modern amenities that a team and fans needs, it remains to be seen if it will ever feel the same as the Coliseum did.
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The Panthers stormed out the gate in the team’s first ever playoff game, jumping all over Boston Bruins goaltender Bill Ranford and electrifying the Miami Arena crowd.
