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Second-round preview: Lightning vs. Islanders
- Updated: April 25, 2016
2:24 PM ETTampa Bay Lightning (2nd seed, Atlantic Division) versus New York Islanders (first Eastern Conference wild card)
The Lightning reached the Stanley Cup finals in 2015 but fell short of the ultimate goal after losing to the Chicago Blackhawks. Playing in the second round is unfamiliar territory for the Islanders, who won their first playoff series since 1993. This will be an interesting series. Lighting coach Jon Cooper’s group once again is playing inspired hockey despite plenty of adversity. Islanders coach Jack Capuano and the boys from Brooklyn are a gritty group and a dangerous team for the Lightning.
Keeping John Tavares contained will be the priority for the Lightning. Mike Stobe/NHLI/Getty ImagesHow they win
Tampa: While the Islanders’ first-round series victory over the Florida Panthers ended with a double-overtime thriller in Game 6, the Lightning have been waiting, watching, resting and preparing after their first-round series win over the Detroit Red Wings concluded on April 22. The time off will serve Tampa well, as many of its top players are bruised and banged up. Because the Lightning reached the Cup finals last season, any extra time off this spring is welcomed. Unlike the Islanders, the Lightning have recent postseason experience, and that will serve them well. It also helps that Tampa is backstopped by goaltender Ben Bishop, who stopped 152 of 160 shots against the Red Wings. Bishop owns a 2.08 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in 30 career playoff games. Tampa needs Bishop’s best performances in order to advance to a second straight conference finals. Like in most playoff series, special teams will be key for the Lightning. Tampa’s penalty kill was 24-for-25 in the first round. On the power play, the Lightning went 4-for-23. The power play will be important because Tampa scored only eight even-strength goals against the Red Wings. Without captain Steven Stamkos, who remains sidelined after surgery to remove a blood clot in his shoulder, the once-exiled Jonathan Drouin played extremely well in the first round and will need to continue his strong play.
New York: The never-say-die Islanders earned three overtime victories in the first …
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