![]() ![]() They lost their last five regular season games and none of their deadline pickups had started to click - Kyle Palmieri had just two goals in 17 games. But, boy, was there a lot of reason to be pessimistic about them heading into Round 1.įrom the trade deadline to the end of the regular season, New York was 5-6-3 with the second-lowest points percentage of any playoff team down the stretch. They definitely shouldn't be surprising us anymore. The Islanders - well, maybe we should have expected them back here. These two will coach against each other with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final at stake for the third time in four seasons. Tampa actually lost the shot battle in the series but outscored Carolina 14-9 and took the series in a surprisingly fast five games. Again Tampa's biggest names led the way and Vasilevskiy continued his dominance, stopping 94 per cent of the shots Carolina threw at him. Then against Carolina, they met another high-event team that appeared primed to make a post-season breakthrough. Andrei Vasilevskiy had a slow start to the playoffs, recovered, and then was the difference as the Panthers had to go three goalies deep into their roster. The Lightning can play you any which way, though, and countered everything Florida threw at them. In Round 1, they met upstart Florida who challenged the Lightning with a quick-pace, high-event series that was must-see TV. When the playoffs rolled around, Kucherov and Stamkos returned and suddenly the Lightning looked more dangerous than ever. Tampa Bay was able to be a player at the trade deadline, adding David Savard - the top defenceman available - who now anchors their third pair. They were also without Steven Stamkos for the last month of the season and Victor Hedman was playing hurt down the stretch. ![]() ![]() They did it all without MVP Nikita Kucherov, sidelined for the regular season to injury. The Lightning had the eighth-most points in the league and were only five off Carolina's division-leading pace. Tampa Bay finished third in a competitive Central Division, but it's not as though they sagged and fell there. Most people probably expected the Lightning back here. Will the Stanley Cup winner come out of this best-of-seven series for the second year in a row, too? The Lightning have been outshot by opponents 35 times this season, and earned 38 points in those games.For the second season in a row, the Islanders and Lightning meet in Round 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.When outshooting its opponent this season, Tampa Bay is 26-12-4 (56 points).Tampa Bay has scored a single power-play goal in 34 games this season and has registered 41 points from those matchups.The Lightning have scored more than two goals in 57 games, earning 93 points from those contests.Tampa Bay failed to win all 10 games this season when it scored a pair of goals.This season the Lightning scored just one goal in nine games and they've earned two points (1-8-0) in those contests.In the 19 games Tampa Bay has played that were decided by one goal, it racked up 22 points.The Lightning have posted a record of 8-6-14 in overtime matchups to contribute to an overall mark of 45-27-6.Computer Predicted Spread: Islanders (-0.7)Ĭheck out the latest odds for this game and place your bets with DraftKings.Our model for this contest expects a final score of Islanders 4, Lightning 3. On 28 power-play opportunities during that span, they have scored seven goals (25.0%).Īs hockey action continues, get ready for the contest by checking out which squad we predict will pick up the victory in Thursday's game. The Lightning are 5-5-0 over their last 10 games, putting up 32 goals while allowing 28 in that period. The Islanders fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 in their most recent game, while the Lightning are coming off a 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers. The New York Islanders (39-30-9) square off against the Tampa Bay Lightning (45-27-6) at UBS Arena on Thursday, April 6 at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN+, MSGSN, and BSSUN. ![]()
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