The Lightning ran into trouble on the very first shift game of the game. They won the opening faceoff and immediately put the puck into their bench, which led to a d-zone faceoff. After winning that draw as well, they committed a penalty. That shift seemed to set the tone for the next several minutes, as the Lightning had trouble with puck management and coverage. On that New York power play, Brock Nelson converted an open look from the slot. A d-zone turnover led to Cal Clutterbuck's open chance goal from the low slot at 4:27. Sixteen seconds later, the Lightning fumbled the puck in their own end, failed to clear it and surrendered Devon Toews' goal from the left point.
Eventually, the Lightning pulled their game together. As the first period progressed, they cleaned up their puck management and began spending more time in the Islanders end. Goalie Thomas Greiss wasn't overly busy in the first, but he made a two-on-one save on Matheiu Joseph and denied Brayden Point's power play shot from the slot in the final minute of the frame.
Greiss was tested more regularly in the second. The Lightning owned much of the possession time in the period and, unlike the first, generated numerous scoring chances. But Greiss was outstanding - he made 21 saves in the period and held the Lightning to just one goal. At the other end, the Islanders didn't have the puck as much, but they did string together some strong shifts. One of those resulted in Casey Cisikas' goal off a cross=ice feed from Matt Martin.
The Lightning continued to push in the third, but they didn't manage as many shots or scoring chances as they had in the second. Greiss stopped the ones they did produce, including a Grade-A rebound look from Ondrej Palat early in the period.
Greiss' strong performance wasn't insignificant. The Lightning generated enough dangerous chances to have made this game much closer. The Islanders also received a monster game from their fourth line of Cisikas, Clutterbuck and Martin, who contributed two goals and were matched up most of the night against Point's line. So a combination of the strong start, Greiss and the play of the Cisikas line led to this Islanders victory.
The Lightning, who lost Victor Hedman to injury early in the second after he collided with an official, conclude the road trip Tuesday in Dallas. They'll see a Stars team that has dropped two straight games and just got called out by their head coach. So as the Lightning look to bounce back from this loss, they'll likely be facing a very motivated opponent.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game:
1. Thomas Greiss - Islanders. 38 saves.
2. Casey Cizikas - Islanders. Goal and assist.
3. Matt Martin - Islanders. Two assists.
