But the Lightning showed the Isles just how far they still are from Stanley Cup contention – and ensured Barclays Center will be quiet for the remainder of the spring – by completing a five-game ousting with a thorough 4-0 victory on Sunday in Tampa.
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With 47:49 gone in the game, a second goal was finally found. Tampa Bay’s two key skaters teamed up to give the Lightning the equaliser.
Since the other series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals is still going (the Penguins hold a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 Tuesday in Pittsburgh), it means that the Lightning will have a few extra days to rest. The Lightning lead the best-of-7 series 3-1. The Islanders’ Thomas Greiss made 25 saves, but he appeared under constant siege.
Along with scoring the winning goal, Garrison was in the middle of another missed call late in the game when he hit Islanders forward Kyle Okposo in the face with his stick with less than five minutes to play. “I think that what puts us in the position we’re in”.
“We didn’t want to be sitting around too much when we got in”. Zika virus concerns have forced the Pirates-Marlins series out of Puerto Rico, with baseball saying the two games will instead be played this month in Miami.
As an National Hockey League superstar and the captain of the New York Islanders, John Tavares expects added attention.
The Lightning came into Brooklyn and stole both games from the Islanders, and as the TSN Hockey panel explains Tampa Bay used its quick strike offence to NY on the brink.
And with Bishop playing like a Vezina Trophy finalist and young players such as Kucherov, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn and Jonathan Drouin making timely contributions, the team is confident they can continue to thrive – even if Stamkos and/or Stralman are unable to return. “We gotta win. It doesn’t matter if you play bad and win, play good and win”.
“He’s such a dynamic player and you’ve got to treat him like that”, Lightning defenceman Jason Garrison said.
“I said it last series (against the Red Wings)”. “Just like you treat every superstar on every team – you try to do your best to limit his time and space and try to limit the Grade A chances”. “As a group, we have to learn from this experience, but right now, it just sucks”. I want to see us push the pace with the D and get those guys up in the play. Bishop earned his 21st playoff victory with Tampa Bay, tying Nikolai Khabibulin for most in franchise history…. Boucher has coached in Switzerland following two-plus seasons leading the Lightning, whom he took to the conference final in 2010-11.
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How it happened: Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman is now in the Conn Smythe conversation.
