The Panthers have never won a series after dropping the opening game, though this is only the eighth series in franchise history.
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Details: Islanders at Panthers Game 1.
That’s all the support 37-year-old goalie Roberto Luongo would need as he silenced the Twitter critics who called for backup goalie Al Montoya to start because of the rare back-to-back playoff set and his shaky play Thursday in which he gave up five goals for just the second time all season.
And if more than a little nastiness is required along the way, so be it.
The fact that the Islanders found a way to pull out the 5-4 victory speaks to their unrelenting resilience. The Lightning took their first step by beating the Red Wings on Wednesday night at Amalie Arena, 3-2. It will be interesting how they handle it tonight in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
“It’s a long series, so we’ll enjoy tonight but it’s back to work tomorrow”, Luongo told the Panthers’ official website. More was expected this season and the Isles, for reasons that have been discussed ad nauseam, often looked and performed like an incomplete product.
Power-play opportunities_N.Y. Islanders 1 of 2; Florida 1 of 3. Despite all of the logistical issues and changes to their routines, the Islanders posted a 25-11-5 record at home this season, equaling their best mark in 12 years.
Game 1 was a flawless example.
Thomas Greiss looks on as the Isles offense falters in Florida.
Still, this is the sixth consecutive playoff series – dating back to 2003 – in which the Islanders came back from their first two road games in a 1-1 series tie.
Those fans made every recent playoff game feel like the most important event on the planet. Capuano’s team took a page out of its opponent’s playbook, unleashing bodies in the Florida end.
Petrovic was sent to the box and Luongo stopped three more shots on the ensuing power play, including a pair from Tavares – who had a three-point night in Game 1.
While losing players, the Islanders kept winning games.
In terms of scoring, the Panthers are 8th in the league in goals-for per game with 2.83.
The Panthers top line of Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr were blanked again, but buzzed Greiss in the closing seconds of the first period. If he doesn’t have it, which player can the Islanders count on for big time goals?
Through two games, the Islanders’ six defensemen have totaled only 13 shots on goal and only three assists, with one of those a primary assist, Nick Leddy’s setup for Tavares late in Game 2.
The Isles tried desperately to get the equalizer in the waning minutes, but the Panthers clamped down defensively and Luongo made a few key stops. By midseason, they switched their morning skates to their Syosset practice facility, although those skates will shift back to Brooklyn beginning Sunday.
This is a series that is tailor-made for the Islanders. The Islanders had their first lead. They lacked chemistry with the puck and were utterly clueless without it. Their last playoff win was on April 21, 2012 in Game Five against the New Jersey Devils. Through two games they’ve shown that they belong in the playoffs and can hang with a team that is built for a long run. It has to be about taking that next step, exorcising the demons that have doomed them in the past.
The advantage might be small, but a small advantage is all it takes to win a series.
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Make no mistake, we’re going to learn a hell of a lot about this team over the next two games.
