Islanders defeat Lightning 5-3, take 1-0 Round 2 series lead

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Shane Prince scored twice during a three-goal first period and John Tavares had a goal and an assist in New York's victory over Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the second-round playoff series.

Taking up where he left off in helping the Islanders advance beyond the first round for the first time in 23 years, Tavares assisted on Travis Hamonic's goal that erased an early deficit and scored his sixth postseason goal on a blistering shot from the left circle to give New York a 4-1 lead in the second.

The Islanders needed overtime to get three of four victories against the Florida Panthers in the opening round. This one was never seriously in doubt after New York wiped out the 1-0 lead Tampa Bay took on Ondrel Palat's goal just over three minutes into the game.

Tampa Bay pulled to 4-3 on third-period goals by Nikita Kucherov and Valtteri Filppula before Cal Clutterbuck's empty-netter sealed the victory in the final minute.

Thomas Greiss, who won one game in overtime and two in double overtime against Florida, finished with 33 saves for the Islanders. They were outshot 28-10 over the last two periods.

Game 2 is Saturday at Amalie Arena.

Tavares scores in overtime, Islanders oust Panthers

From the Islanders website.

The New York Islanders are going to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Islanders beat the Panthers 2-1 in double-overtime on Sunday night, taking their Eastern Conference First Round series in six games and advancing to the second round for the first time since 1993.

In a fitting moment, John Tavares scored the game-tying and game-winning goals, the Islanders’ best player raising his game at the biggest time. He scored his first with 53.2 seconds to play in the third period and the winner, a wraparound, at 10:41 of the second overtime.

“It’s hard to even believe it’s over,” Tavares said of the marathon game and marathon series, which saw three games go to overtime and two to double-overtime. “It was hard fought, give Florida a ton of credit; it was a heck of a series. Every game was tight.”

The captain, who led the Islanders through their rebuild was the one to lead them through to the second round for first time in 23 years. Cal Clutterbuck said Sunday night was just as much for the fans as it was for the guys in the room.

“It’s just been a decade and a half of inconsistency and it’s good to be the team that allows people to enjoy the moment that gets over that hump,” Clutterbuck said. “For us to come together, we’re starting to realize our potential. So it’s exciting for people to see and it’s something to cheer about.”

Sunday’s game showcased the Islanders’ resiliency as a group as well as their maturity as a group. At times on Sunday night, it really felt like the hockey gods were teasing the Islanders, as they fell behind in the first period despite being the superior team and couldn’t beatRoberto Luongo, who was stopping pucks he couldn’t even see in the first 59 minutes.

“It we stop with a minute left today, we’re going back and playing game seven in Florida,” Clutterbuck said. “You just have to stick with it and keep pushing forward.”

The most gut-wrenching moment came when the Panthers had possession with the Islanders net empty. With Nick Leddy playing goalie with a minute to go, Aaron Ekblad sent a wrist shot on the fairly-empty net. Leddy blocked the game-sealer and took off down the other end. The smooth-skating defenseman carried the puck all the way to the Islanders goal line, backhanded a shot on Luongo and kicked off a chain of events around the net. Luongo blocked Leddy’s shot and thought he had Nikolay Kulemin’s rebound, but the puck squeaked through, sitting in the crease for John Tavares, who potted the tying goal with 53.2 seconds to play.

“In the last minute you just try to go to the net, get lost and lucky enough the puck just barely squirted under Luongo,” Tavares said. “I was happy being alone. Obviously couldn’t be any easier. Great play by Leds skating it in and Kule just going to the net. Just lucky I was the one that was there.”

But getting to overtime was really only half the battle. The extra frame was not for the faint of heart, with surges going back and forth. The Islanders peppered Luongo with 15 shots in the first OT, while Thomas Greiss stopped 13 of his 41 shots, with a host of different players all vying for the leather jacket. At one point it looked like Steve Bernier – a healthy scratch until Game 5 – would be the hero, at another, Alan Quine, the rookie callup. Tavares and Kyle Okposo each took a swing of their own, but through 20 minutes, neither team could find the finishing touch.

Exhaustion started to set in the second overtime. Tavares said he felt his legs cramping up in the dogpile and that if he hadn’t scored, taking Okposo’s rebound, circling the net and depositing the winner, he wasn’t sure if he could continue. But Sunday wasn’t about hypotheticals, it was about the Islanders coming together for their biggest win in over two decades and Tavares being the one to lead them.

“We went through the rebuilding stage with a young hockey club and went through some tough times, we knew eventually we’d get to this point,” Head Coach Jack Capuano said. “I can’t be more proud of the group that we have, led by our captain.”

Sunday was a step in the right direction for the Islanders. 1993 is now where it belongs, in the distant past. It’s about 2016 now and the push forward, starting this week vs. the Lightning.

Goodbye 1993, hello Tampa Bay.

Islanders defeat Panthers, take 3-2 series lead

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Alan Quine's power-play goal at exactly 16 minutes of the second overtime gave the New York Islanders a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers early Saturday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Thomas Greiss stopped 47 shots for the Islanders. They lead the series 3-2 and can wrap it up with a win in Game 6 in New York on Sunday.

Roberto Luongo made 40 saves for Florida, which missed a penalty shot in the first overtime and was whistled for two penalties in the second overtime. The game ended at 12:16 a.m.

The Islanders' second overtime power play came when Derek Mackenzie was called for slashing at 14:31, and that would be the break New York finally needed. Quine's blast from the right side beat Luongo, and the Islanders swarmed the ice in celebration.

Frans Nielsen scored in the first period for the Islanders, and Aleksander Barkov tied it early in the third for the Panthers. The Islanders' Calvin De Haan was called for closing his hand on the puck in the crease 7:19 into overtime, giving Barkov a chance to win it on a penalty shot - just the third in NHL playoff history. But his backhander was easily handled by Greiss

It was the seventh consecutive playoff overtime loss for Florida, a streak beginning with the final game of the 1996 Stanley Cup final against Colorado.

Pulock Out 1-2 Weeks

From the Islanders website.

Ryan Pulock

Ryan Pulock’s playoffs are currently being put on hold.

The rookie defenseman will be sidelined for 1-2 weeks with an upper-body injury, suffered in the third period of Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the Panthers. His return to the lineup likely depends on whether or not the Islanders advance to the second round.

"He’ll probably be out for the rest of the series, don’t know how long. First indication was 1-2 weeks with upper body," Head Coach Jack Capuano said. “It’s just tough to lose another guy. He was really playing well for us as a young guy and really coming into his own.” 

Pulock had three points (1G, 2A) in four playoff games and earned a promotion to the Islanders’ top power-play unit in Game 4, where he assisted on a John Tavares goal.

Marek Zidlicky draws in for Pulock in Game 5. The 39-year-old defenseman has 44 career NHL playoff games under his belt.

Panthers defeat Islanders 2-1, series tied at 2

NEW YORK (AP) - Alex Petrovic scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and the Florida Panthers beat the New York Islanders to even their first-round playoff series at two games apiece.

Teddy Purcell also scored for Florida, and Jaromir Jagr had an assist for his 200th career playoff point. Roberto Luongo stopped 26 shots.

John Tavares had his third goal of the series for New York, and Thomas Greiss finished with 27 saves.

The Panthers got their first playoff road win since April 17, 2012, against New Jersey in Game 3 of the first round.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in Sunrise, Florida.

Islanders take 2-1 series lead with game three win over Panthers

NEW YORK (AP) Thomas Hickey scored 12:31 into overtime to give the New York Islandersa 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Sunday night in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Hickey scored on a one-timer off a pass from Brock Nelson from behind the net to lift the Islanders to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is in Brooklyn on Wednesday night.

Ryan Pulock, Shane Prince and Frans Nielsen also scored for the Islanders in their first playoff game in Brooklyn. Thomas Greiss made 36 saves, and John Tavares and Kyle Okposo each had two assists.

Reilly Smith had a goal and two assists, and Aleksander Barkov and Nick Bjustad also scored for the Panthers. Smith has four goals and four assists in the series. Roberto Luongo stopped 35 shots.

Panthers defeat Islanders 3-1, series tied at 1

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) - Roberto Luongo made 41 saves for his first playoff win in five years, and the Florida Panthers evened their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series by beating the New York Islanders.

Reilly Smith and Nick Bjugstad each had a goal and an assist for Florida, which salvaged a split in the series-opening back-to-back. Dmitry Kulikov added an empty-netter with 9.3 seconds left to clinch the win. Game 3 is in Brooklyn on Sunday.

John Tavares scored with 3:33 left for New York, and Thomas Greiss stopped 28 shots for the Islanders.