Eastern Conference Final Preview: Islanders vs Lightning

The New York Islanders are headed to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 1993.
It's both a moment of celebration and realization, the furthest any Isles team has gone in 27 years and yet only halfway to the ultimate goal of the Stanley Cup.
Standing in their way is the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are back in the conference finals for a fourth time in six years after racking up a pair of series wins over the Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins.

Beating the Bolts will be no easy feat, as the Lightning went 43-21-6 during the regular season and were the league's most potent offense averaging 3.47 goals-per-game. Of course, there are no easy games past the halfway point in the playoffs.

"There's a bit of a celebration, but we understand that we're halfway," Head Coach Barry Trotz said after Game 7. "We've won three playoff rounds and we're going to play a very good Tampa team here. They're focused and deep and we're going to have to come up with a way to try and get by them. I think our guys are up for the challenge. Our team has grown."
This marks the third postseason meeting between the clubs and first since 2016, when the Isles fell in five games in the second round. The Isles already avenged a 2015 loss to the Capitals and a win over the Lightning would feel like a little poetic justice to the 2016 holdovers.
"You're going to have to go through the top teams in the league to be the top team," Anders Lee said. "That's expected with only four teams left and they are all phenomenal hockey clubs. No surprise we're going to have to go through Tampa Bay, a challenge we want to have. We want to beat the best to be the best."

THE SCHEDULE:

SEASON SERIES:

Nov. 1 Isles 5, Lightning 2
Dec. 9 Isles 5, Lightning 1
Feb. 8 Lightning 3, Isles 1
During the regular season, the Isles bested the season series 2-1-0 over the Lightning.
The Isles won 5-2 on Long Island (Nov. 1) and 5-1 at AMALIE Arena (Dec. 9) before Tampa Bay earned a 3-1 home win in the final meeting Feb. 8.
The Isles put forth dominant showings in their first two meetings where they received five goals in each and were each powered by multi-goal scorers with contributions throughout the lineup.
Varlamov suited up for the latter two meetings (1-1) while Greiss picked up a win in their first meeting with 33 saves on 35 shots.
Seven different Isles scored goals and 12 different skaters etched their name on the scoresheet in the season series. Bailey (2G, 3A) and Lee (2G, 3A) led the Isles in scoring with five points each and Bailey was the sole player to record a point in all three meetings.
For Tampa, captain Steven Stamkos held the scoring lead for the regular season with his two goals and one assist and points in all three contests. Andrei Vasilevskiy bookended the series meetings posting one win and one loss, while backup Curtis McElhinney manned the pipes in the second meeting where the Isles won 5-1.
During the Lightning's first win of the series in the series finale on Feb. 8, Vasilevskiy extended his point streak to 18 games (16-0-2) en route to an impressive 21-straight games with a point.

Video: Isles Advance to Eastern Conference Final

KEYS TO THE SERIES:

Bottling Up The Lightning:
Believe it or not, but it's the Islanders (3.38 goals-per-game) who are averaging more goals in the playoffs than the Lightning (3.00). As steady as the Isles offense has been - scoring three-or-more goals in eight-straight games - getting into a track meet with the Lightning would be ill-advised.
Tampa has an explosive offense, which lit the lamp nine times on two separate occasions during the season. The Lightning scored seven-or-more goals six times, five-or-more goals 16 times and at least four goals on 28 different occasions.
They also put together a 7-1 win over the Bruins in a Game 3 win in the Second Round.
The Lightning offense is led by Brayden Point, the team leader with 18 points (6G, 12A), and Nikita Kucherov, who has 16 points (4G, 12A). Ondrej Palat and Norris Trophy Finalist Victor Hedman each have five goals and nine points in the playoffs. Even without Steven Stamkos, who has missed the entire postseason with a lower-body injury, they've been potent.
"Obviously a team with a ton of firepower up and down the lineup," Lee said. "One that's had a ton of success in the last many years. It'll be a tough challenge."
The Isles managed to shut down the NHL's second-and-sixth-ranked offenses in Washington and Florida, so they've proven they can contain a high-octane attack. The Islanders are averaging 1.94 goals-against per game in the playoffs, first among the final four and second against the bubble field. )Tampa is right behind them at 2.31 goals-against per game.)
At their best, the Isles have been able to suppress shots, force their opponents to the outside and have been on their toes to protect a lead. They held the Caps to three five-on-five goals in their First Round series, shut out the Flyers twice and held Philadelphia to 16 shots against in Game 7.
"We have our most success when we're all on the same page and playing the right way," Lee said. "Limiting chances and shutting those guys down, I think that's what makes us a team and that's what makes us a special group. That's why we've had success."

Goalie Matchup:
The Isles returned to their two-goalie system against the Flyers, with Thomas Greiss and Semyon Varlamov each recording two wins and a shutout. Varlamov was exceptional through the Qualifier and First Round, but Trotz sensed a little fatigue in the Russian as the Flyers series wore on, so he started Greiss, who stopped 52-of-53 shots in his two starts.
The Islanders feel confident in both netminders, so Trotz has options and it's very possible that both will see action vs the Lightning.
There's no question about who will start for the Bolts, as reigning Vezina Trophy winner - and current Vezina finalist - Andrei Vasilevskiy assumes the crease. The Lightning netminder is one of the top goalies in the league, leading the NHL with 35 wins during the regular season. He boasts a 10-3 record and his 1.91 GAA and .931 SV% in the playoffs are both second among goalies who've played 10 games.
Vasilevskiy will mark the third Vezina winner the Isles have encountered this postseason after Sergei Bobrovksy and Braden Holtby, but so far Varlamov and Greiss have won the goaltending duels against their name-brand counterparts.
Between Varlamov, Greiss and Vasilevskiy, there should be no shortage of good goaltending in the series.
Time Off vs Fatigue Factor:
The Islanders have a quick turnaround from Game 7 to Game 1, packing their things in Toronto and flying to the Edmonton bubble on their off day.
Going the distance vs Philly meant that the Isles played five playoff games in eight days, including three additional overtime periods. That's a lot of hockey in a short span and not a lot of time to recover, though that might not be the worst thing for the Islanders, who felt they had gone stale after having nine days off between series in last year's playoffs.
The Lightning have been off since August 31, giving them a week between games. They'll have had some additional time to heal up and had an extra couple of days to acclimate to new surroundings in the Edmonton bubble, but it'll be interesting to see if it translates to rest or rust.
It could cut either way for the Isles as well. Will they start Game 1 in a rhythm, or will a packed schedule, travel and tight turnaround take a toll. Trotz doesn't seem worried either way, saying his team has accepted all challenges throw their way in the unusual bubble setup.
"You can't control the schedule, but you roll with it," Lee said. "There are positives to both sides, to rest up and be fresh and at the same time coming off a Game 7, you're kind of in that game-ready mode."

Video: NYI@PHI, Gm1: Lee finishes pass from Barzal

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

LEE-BARZAL-EBERLE
Anders Lee, Mat Barzal and Jordan Eberle had a productive series against the Flyers, combining for 16 points (6G, 10A) over seven games.
The point total was on the low end considering how many chances the trio generated. The line was on for 33 high-danger chances for and 14 against at five-on-five vs the Flyers and peppered Philly for 21 shots on goal in Game 6 alone.
Trotz specifically praised Barzal's effort in Game 7 as the best he'd seen, especially after taking multiple sticks and pucks to the face in the final three games, as well as a lot of physical attention from the Flyers.
"As you go along, you're going to look more like a hockey player if you're winning and right now he's getting a little marked up," Trotz said of Barzal. "He's just playing through it. That's the growth of a young player. I don't think he had any points today - but that was his best game as a pro since I've been on the Island. He played the right way, he was dangerous, his battle level was really high and his focus was razor sharp."
During the regular season, Lee had a team-high five points (2G, 3A) against the Lightning, Barzal had three points (1G, 2A) in three games while Eberle had an assist in his two games vs the Bolts.
JOSH BAILEY
Josh Bailey's had a hot stick and a steady hand through the postseason, leading the Islanders with 17 points (2G, 15A). He's primarily been the setup man for Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier who have seven and eight goals respectively. Bailey's 15 assists are one shy of the playoff lead and his 17 points are tied for the second-most among Isles forwards in the Post-Cup era. He's been remarkably consistent, earning points in 10 of 16 games.
BROCK NELSON
Brock Nelson led the Islanders with eight points (4G, 4A) in seven games vs the Flyers and is currently is riding a four-game point streak. Nelson is second on the team in playoff goals (7), points (15) and face-off win percentage (53%). Nelson had a pair of goals in three regular season games vs the Lightning this season.
DERICK BRASSARD
After being scratched in Games 1 and 2 vs the Flyers, Derick Brassard made a statement when he returned to the lineup. Brassard recorded five points (2G, 3A) in five games, notably stripping Matt Niskanen to set up Leo Komarov with a hustle play in Game 3 and showing great patience to feed Andy Greene in Game 7. Brassard has eight points (2G, 6A) in 13 playoff games this season.

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LIGHTNING PLAYERS TO WATCH:

PALAT-POINT-KUCHEROV LINE
Brayden Point has boasted an impressive showing through two rounds of the playoffs. Throughout 13 games, the 24-year-old center has compiled a team-high 18 points (6G, 12A), which is also tied for the third most in the league for the playoffs. In Tampa's series against the Bruins, Point recorded a point in all five games scoring one goal and adding seven assists.
Point notably scored the overtime winner in the second-longest game of the modern era, which required five overtimes before Point sealed the victory for his club in their first game over Columbus. In Game 5 against the Blue Jackets, Point scored the series clinching goal in double overtime.
Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov complete the Bolts top line and have been stellar in the postseason as well, creating a trifecta threat. Combined, the trio have amassed 43 points (15G, 28A).
Palat scored all five of his postseason goals in Tampa's series against Boston. The left winger is riding a five-game point streak and four-game goal streak. Through 13 games, the Czech native has picked up nine points (5G, 4A)
Kucherov is second in Bolts scoring with his 16 postseason points (4G, 12A). The lethal Russian winger was riding a three-game point streak heading into Game 5 against Boston (2G, 5A). Kucherov's outing was cut short after taking a high stick to the face in the first period. He returned briefly in the second period, but then left for the dressing room once more and did not return. Kucherov is expected to suit up in Game 1 for the Lightning.
The trio makes up Tampa's top power-play unit along with Alex Killorn and Mikhail Sergachev, who quarterbacks the blueline.
VICTOR HEDMAN
Norris Trophy Finalist Victor Hedman has been exquisite since the NHL restart and will be a threat for the Isles to make note of. The towering 6-foot-6, 229-pound blueliner set a new franchise record for the Lightning with four goals in their Second Round series including the series-clinching goal in double overtime of Game 5.
Throughout this postseason, the Swede is third in scoring and leads the blueline for Tampa with his nine points (5G, 4A) through 13 games.
Hedman quarterbacks the Lightning's second power-play unit alongside fellow blueliner Kevin Shattenkirk and forwards; Patrick Maroon, Yanni Gourde and Tyler Johnson.
YANNI GOURDE
With Stamkos sidelined, Yanni Gourde has risen with larger responsibilities. Similar to Isles center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Gourde offers a Swiss Army Knife of options, as he plays power play, the penalty kill, takes faceoffs and brings energy.
Tampa has utilized an 11 forward and seven defensemen lineup since Game 2 against the Bruins which has allowed Gourde to log a surplus of minutes in meaningful situations. In Game 5 against Boston, the 28-year-old was one of four forwards who played over 30 minutes.
Gourde has also helped fuse Tampa's trade-deadline acquisitions Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow on his line. As a trio, the line adds the perfect balance of hard-checking quick play, with a knack for getting to the crease. With Tampa's star power up front, the Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman line has been beneficial in rounding out their lineup. Gourde and Coleman each have seven points in the postseason while Goodrow has picked up three.

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INJURY UPDATES:

The Lightning currently have Stamkos and Jan Rutta sidelined. Coach Jon Cooper confirmed that Stamkos will not play in the Eastern Conference Final.
Stamkos has not suited up for any action in the postseason. Stamkos underwent core surgery in March and joined his team for Phase 2 practices where he sustained an indefinite lower-body injury that has held him out since.
Rutta has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury. The Czech defenseman suited up for one game of the postseason during Tampa's Round Robin play on Aug. 5 but has been out since.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

The Islanders special teams units shined in their series against the Flyers. On the power play, the Isles converted on four of 21 opportunities for a power play percentage of 19.0%. Behind Dallas, the Isles' 10 power-play goals of the postseason are the most among active teams still in the race.
Against Boston, the Lightning's power play went 4-for-20 (20.0%) scoring three of their four power-play markers in their 7-1 Game 3 rout. Throughout the entirety of the playoffs, Tampa's power play has gone 6-for-35 and earned a 17.1% just 0.1 percent higher than the Isles' 17.0% percentage (10-for-59).
On the penalty kill, the Isles were superb as they executed a perfect 13-for-13 in the series and only held the Flyers to 11 shots total. Through the postseason, the Isles have killed 37-of-45 shorthanded attempts for a 82.2% kill rate.
Tampa's penalty kill went 12-for-17 in their series against the Bruins, where they relinquished at least one power-play goal in each of their five meetings. The Lightning are 39-for-48 on the kill for a percentage of 81.3% in the postseason.