New York Islanders players react after the Tampa Bay Lightning score during the second period of Game Five of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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The New York Islanders were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs Sunday after losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0.
Fact is, the Islanders scored one goal over the series’ final 132:59 after Cal Clutterbuck gave them a 4-3 Game 3 lead at 11:23 of the third period.
Sunday marked the first exit of the second round, as the New York Islanders bowed out to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.
The Lightning is the first team to punch its ticket to the Conference Finals, and will face the victor of the Pittsburgh Penguins-Washington Capitals series.
Jason Garrison scored 1:34 into overtime Friday night as the Lightning beat the Islanders 2-1 at Barclays Center to take a three games to one series lead.
“Last year was obviously a good experience for me and the team”, said Hedman, who had eight points in the series (four goals, four assists) and a goal in three of his past four games.
They actually seemed to get better along the way in the second-round series, winning four straight against the Isles after dropping the opening game on home ice. Tampa Bay shook off the rust from their Game 1 loss and turned it into four straight wins to catapult them to their second straight Eastern Conference Final appearance. Tampa Bay, which reached the Stanley Cup Finals a year ago, isn’t taking anything for granted. “And we want to win-we’re competitive”.
Sunday’s victory also marked his 21st career playoff win, putting the 29-year-old atop the record books for most post-season wins in franchise history, tied with Nikolai Khabibulin. Islanders G Thomas Greiss had to leave 1:33 into the second when one of his skates broke. “You want to be at your best when you come to the playoffs”. Defenseman Ryan Pulock (upper body) returned to the lineup in Game 4, replacing Marek Zidlicky, and registered two shots on goal in 14:12 of ice time while rookie Alan Quine was a healthy scratch in favor of fellow forward Ryan Strome.
The Predators also have to find a way to score more goals, as Nashville averages the lowest average of goals-per-game in the playoffs. The Lightning won consecutive playoff games in overtime for the first time since Games 2 and 3 of the 1996 Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Philadelphia Flyers. The tendency is to drop into that “prevent” defense that too often leads to a bunch of players sitting on their heels getting blitzed by the other side’s own desperate attack. They still trail in the series, but Murray finally showing cracks has led to speculation that the Penguins might turn to regular starter Marc-Andre Fleury, who hasn’t played since March 31 because of a concussion.
Okposo, who has become such a big part of the Islanders’ identity, is likely due to for a big raise after what has been a productive season alongside captain Tavares at an affordable $2.8-million cap hit. “He’s really young. That’s the scary thing; he’s going to get even better”. “You put a lot into this and we didn’t accomplish what we set out to do”.
Start in goal. Ben Bishop is a Vezina Trophy finalist who not only stops the puck but moves it, diffusing forechecks, beginning breakouts. But they have clicked so well in the first two rounds that you wouldn’t know Stralman and Stamkos were missing. This would carry the Lightning all the way to the buzzer that ended the second period.
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Tavares was a big key in the 1st round victory against the Florida Panthers, yet, he scored once in Game One against the Lightning.
