Isles' Power Play Prompts a 2-0 Series Lead

Coming into their Stanley Cup Qualifier series against the Florida Panthers, the Islanders were cognizant of how much of an impact special teams could play, especially as they prepared to face the 10th-best power play (21.3%) in the league during the regular season.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Isles took a 2-0 series lead, with the help of some superb and timely execution of their special teams. The Isles' claimed Game 2 with a 4-2 victory at Scotiabank Arena as they went 2-for-7 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill. Tuesday was only the second time this year that the Isles had seven power-play opportunities in one game (on Nov. 21, 2019 the Isles went 2-for-7 in their 4-3 OT win over Pittsburgh) which tied their season high.

For two-straight games, the Islanders have held the upper hand in the battle of special teams and scored pivotal power-play goals.

In Game 1, Anthony Beauvillier buried a one-timer from the right faceoff circle for Video: Isles take 2-0 series lead behind Eberle, Varlamov In Game 2, Ryan Pulock blasted his shot from distance to tie the score 2-2 - scoring his first playoff goal since 2016 - and providing a much-needed momentum boost.

Midway through the third period of Game 2, Jordan Eberle scored his second goal of the game and the Isles' insurance goal en route to their eventual 4-2 win. The forward lit the lamp on the doorstep as he redirected Beauvillier's initial shot taken from the high slot, all while dimming Florida's hopes of evening out the series.

"When it comes to the playoffs special teams are so key," Pulock said. "They've got a pretty power play over there. We as a power play, have to try and get ourselves a goal when we can or get some momentum. Tonight [we scored] some big goals. Even when we didn't score we were able to get some momentum and take some control over it."

On Tuesday, the Islanders were briefly behind 2-1 as they relinquished their first power-play goal against in the series eight minutes into the second period as Florida's Aleksander Barkov beat Isles' netminder Semyon Varlamov with a wrist shot.

Having gone 0-for-3 on their previous power-play chances, they took a new approach as they received their fourth man advantage when Florida's Mike Hoffman was sent to the box for holding against Eberle.

Opposed to their usual structure of sending out one mobile defenseman to quarterback a unit alongside a pyramid of four forwards - including two centermen - the Isles opted to send out two defensemen; Devon Toews and Pulock.

Toews observed his usual role of controlling the puck and anchoring the play at the blueline, while Pulock took on a new role atop the left faceoff circle. In a similar and simple fashion, to Beavuillier's go-ahead goal in Game 1, the Islanders worked the zone laterally before finding the perfect pocket to set up their shooter - in this case, Pulock - for a one-timer.

"What you're finding is that our power play is getting a little bit of confidence," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "They're trusting that they don't have to be as fancy. In these formats or early in the year, the penalty kill has a little bit of an advantage over the power play. That can get frustrating sometimes. We understand what we need to do and we've been able to do some of that."

With Game 3 set for Wednesday afternoon and the second leg of their back-to-back against Florida, the Islanders look to close out and sweep the series, but they know the battle of special teams is far from over.

"If we can at least be even in the special teams, I trust our five-on-five," Trotz said.