3 Takeaways: Isles Bulldoze Bolts 6-1

The New York Islanders recognized the need for two points, delivering on that with some urgency with a 6-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night at UBS Arena.
Adam Pelech, Brock Nelson (1G, 2A), Kyle Palmieri, Ryan Pulock (1G, 1A), Simon Holmstrom and Bo Horvat (1G, 1A) led the way for the Islanders offense, while Nikita Kucherov scored the lone goal for Tampa Bay. Ilya Sorokin stood out with 30 saves in the win, while Brian Elliott stopped 36-of-42 in the loss.
The Islanders snapped a two-game winless skid, while the Lightning closed out a back-to-back set after falling 6-3 to the New York Rangers on Wednesday night. The Islanders snapped a six-game regular season losing streak against the Bolts, beating Tampa for the first time since Dec. 9, 2019.

"We were energized," Pelech said after the win. "Especially playing team on the back-to-back like that it was important for us to get off to a good start. The atmosphere was great tonight, always fun to play in front of our fans."
While the Islanders picked up a crucial two points in the ultra-tight wild card race on a night both the Pittsburgh Penguins won 4-1 over the Minnesota Wild and the Florida Panthers demolished the Ottawa Senators 7-2 for their fifth consecutive win. All three teams competing for a wild card spot have played 79 games and are within a single point. The Islanders (89 points) and Panthers (89 points) occupy both wild card spots while the Penguins (88 points) sit one point out.
"We knew what was at stake tonight," Horvat said. "Playing against a really good hockey team, we got to bring that mindset to every game here. All the teams we wanted to lose tonight, won. We just have to keep winning and playing our game."

ISLES ASSERT DOMINANCE EARLY

With three days' rest and two practice days since their last game, the Islanders had a jump in their step in the opening frame, proving to be the better team early.
"We were able to get some practice in, get back home, get comfortable to be ready for this game," Ryan Pulock said. "And I think everyone took that opportunity to be ready."
The Islanders outshot the Lightning 13-3 in the first period, besting Tampa Bay in shot attempts 30-8. After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, the Islanders' effort paid off, erupting for four goals in the second period.
Adam Pelech scooped the puck and fired off a long shot from the point, beating Elliott through traffic to break the ice. Hudson Fasching and Jean-Gabriel Pageau registered the assists on the play.
After a battle below the goal line, Samuel Bolduc collected the puck and sent it to an open Brock Nelson in front of the net, who sniped a shot through Elliott.
The Islanders deepened the lead 49 seconds later, as Brock Nelson carried the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone, looking to find Kyle Palmieri, who broke into the slot and whipped a shot past Elliott.
Pulock rounded out the second period scoring, putting the Isles up 4-1 with 20 seconds left in the middle frame
Armed with a three-goal lead, the Islanders took it home in the third period with a goal from Simon Holmstrom, who slotted in for Josh Bailey on the top line, and scored his sixth goal of the season. . Bo Horvat tacked on the Islanders' sixth goal with 20 seconds left in the final frame - his second goal since Feb. 26.

ISLANDERS 6, LIGHTNING 1
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ISLES-BOLTS VIDEO
Full Highlights
Postgame: Lambert
Postgame: Horvat
Postgame: Pelech

KINGER'S CALLS
Pelech Opens the Scoring
Nelson Nets 33rd
Palmieri Pots 16th
Pulock Through Traffic
Holmstrom Scores Sixth
Horvat is All That

DEFENSEMAN EXPLODE OFFENSIVELY

The Islanders defense remained stingy while the defenseman stood out on the scoresheet.
The pair of Pelech and Pulock had a strong performance both offensively and defensively. Pelech tallied the opening goal and set a new career-high with his sixth goal of the season, scoring for the first time since Feb. 26. Pulock registered a two-point night (1G, 1A) for the third time of the season, recovering the three-goal advantage in the second period to continue the momentum in the win.
"They both played really well," Head Coach Lane Lambert said of the duo. "Pelech is really on his game right now, but they both did a good job shutting down the top guys and contributing offensively."
Pelech played a team-high 22:33, while Pulock was second in ice time with 21:42. Pelech had four shots in the win, while Pulock had six attempts.
The d-men shined on Thursday, as Bolduc registered his first NHL assist with a strong pass on Nelson's goal, marking his first point since his recall on Mar. 21.
"I thought he played well," Lambert said. "Really good pinch on that play to keep the puck alive. He was solid in his defensive ability and his battles in the defensive zone."
Overall, defensemen accounted for four points in the four-goal middle frame in the win.
"We were aggressive offensively and in the neutral zone," Pulock said. "We did a pretty good job of staying up and breaking up plays through the neutral zone and turning it on them and getting some chances."

SOROKIN EARNS FIRST WIN AGAINST LIGHTNING

Ilya Sorokin held strong in between the pipes and stifled Tampa's offense with 30 saves, allowing one goal or fewer for the 22nd time this season.
"He gives us a chance to win every night," Pelech said. "He was outstanding tonight just like it always is."
Notably, the 27-year-old netminder got a monkey off his back with the win against the Lightning, who were the only team in the Eastern Conference he hasn't beaten yet in his career.
Sorokin shut down a red-hot Alex Killorn on the power play in the first frame and effectively kept him off the scoresheet through 60 minutes, putting an end to his five-game point streak. He also denied Pierre-Edouard on a breakaway in the middle frame.
"He's unbelievable," Horvat said of Sorokin. "One of the best goalies I've played in front of. Just his poise and ability to make saves in key times is phenomenal."

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night at UBS Arena at 7:30 p.m. It's Jerry Garcia night and there will be a
Plaza Party, presented by Heineken
, starting at 4 p.m.