KINGER'S CALLS
Nelson's Wicked Wrister
Despite exiting the period on a positive note, the Islanders started slow and were under siege early as the Lightning came out firing and outshot them 6-1 through the first 2:30. The Islanders eventually revved up their own game and began to attack Tampa Bay, where they scored the game's icebreaker on Nelson's wrister in transition at 18:14.
Tampa Bay stormed out with a dominant response in the second period with two goals to take a 2-1 lead heading into the final 20 minutes of play and held an 11-7 shot advantage.
The Lightning entered the middle frame on the power play - and took advantage - after Zdeno Chara took a tripping penalty with 45 seconds left in the first period. Hedman grabbed a pass from Brayden Point at the Islanders blueline and skated into open space. The Swedish defenseman snapped his shot far side of Sorokin at 1:10 to tie the score 1-1.
Tampa Bay kept the momentum going as they doubled their lead 2-1 at 9:47 on a transition play. Anthony Cirelli intercepted a pass at their blueline and jetted up ice exchanging a give-and-go with Killorn. Cirelli threaded his feed for Killorn's tap-in past Sorokin's blocker.
The Islanders had an almost immediate opportunity to tie the score as they earned a power play 10:37, but they couldn't convert. Then, they seemingly tied the score with 14 seconds left in the period as Jean-Gabriel Pageau sprinted up ice after collecting a pass from Kyle Palmieri and went on to beat Vasilevskiy with a backhander, but the Lightning bench immediately - and successfully - challenged for offside on Palmieri when entering the zone. Upon review, the goal was overturned.
"It's unfortunate, that would be a tie game," Pageau said. "We played two solid periods and we're right there."
In the final frame, the Islanders came out with a strong start - as Sorokin did not return and Varlamov replaced him between the pipes - where they outshot the Lightning 4-2 through nine minutes, but Tampa took control with a 14-6 final in shots for the frame.
But Tampa Bay extended its lead 3-1 at 9:10 as they cashed in on a series of rebounds. A point shot from Sergachev created mayhem around the net front as both teams tried to pick up Varlamov's rebounds, but the puck shot back out to Sergachev, who re-fired. Varlamov once again made the stop, but Colton swooped in and lofted his shot over Varlamov's stick.
After the Islanders failed to convert on a late power play opportunity - and finished the game 0-for-3 - at 13:59, the Lightning made it 4-1 shortly after their successful kill. Steven Stamkos occupied the net front as Sergachev sent a shot at Varlamov. The Islanders netminder made the initial stop, but the rebound popped right out to Sergachev where he sent the puck over the goal line with the back of his stick at 16:56.
