The Lightning came flying out of the gates. From the opening faceoff, they put the Islanders back on their heels and applied relentless pressure. Anthony Cirelli and Tyler Johnson scored goals 26 seconds apart, making it 2-0. Frankly, the Lightning could have added more goals during those early minutes, but Christopher Gibson made several key saves. In the middle part of the period, the Lightning took three consecutive penalties and the extended power play time sparked the Islanders. Ryan Pulock netted a goal during a four-on-three (the first of the three power plays), but the Lightning got through the other two kills successfully. Just as the last of the penalties expired, Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point rushed the puck into the offensive zone. Point set up Victor Hedman, who roofed a shot from the left circle over Gibson's glove to reestablish a two-goal lead.
In the first period, the Lightning owned most of the puck possession and generated the majority of the scoring chances. They weren't able to maintain the same level of possession time in the second period, even though they netted four more goals. Two came on two-on-one rushes and the other two were power play goals. But the period also featured two more goals against. One, during an early penalty kill, came on an open look for Pulock (who can shoot the puck over 100 miles an hour). The other, just under two minutes later, resulted from a d-zone turnover and an in-alone chance for Anders Lee.
After Lee's second period goal cut the Lightning lead to 4-3, the Bolts rebounded with three unanswered tallies and went up 7-3. But the Isles netted three quick goals in the opening 4:36 of the third. During another New York power play, Lee scored again when he set up in front of the net and put in a rebound. Following another Lightning d-zone turnover, Anthony Beauvillier finished an open chance in front. Beauvillier added another when he tipped Johnny Boychuk's point shot into the net.
At one point in the third period, the Islanders were outshooting the Lightning, 9-0. But over the final 12 minutes of the frame, the Lightning locked it down defensively. They managed the puck well and, as a result, had most of the puck possession. They spent a lot of time in the offensive zone, forcing the Isles to defend (instead of going on the attack). And they limited the Islanders to just five shots on goal in those final 12 minutes.
In the end, that was the most important aspect of this win. When the Islanders rallied to within a goal and had plenty of time left to tie the score, the Lightning closed the door in textbook fashion.
Lightning Radio Big Moment of the Game:
The Lightning's strong play in the final 12 minutes, preserving the 7-6 lead.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game:
