Mishkin's Musings: Bolts vs. Isles in the 2016 playoffs

After having eliminated Detroit in five games during the opening round of the 2016 playoffs, the Lightning had to wait a few days before learning their second-round opponent. There was a chance that the Lightning would face their cross-state rivals for the first time ever. The Florida Panthers had won the Atlantic Division in 2015-16 and were in the midst of a close series with the New York Islanders, who had earned a Wildcard spot. When the Lightning closed out the Red Wings on April 21, the Panthers-Islanders series was tied at two games apiece. A Lightning-Panthers matchup would not be the cards, however. The Isles won Games Five and Six - capturing both in double overtime - to reach the second round.

Despite having gained fewer regular season points than the Isles, the Lightning had home ice advantage. That's because the Lightning finished second in the Atlantic Division while the Isles ended up fourth in the Metropolitan Division and slotted into the first Wildcard position. That meant that they "crossed over" into the Atlantic as the "fourth" seed.

The Islanders were a formidable team. In the previous season, they had earned 101 regular season points and lost a seven-game series to Washington in the first round. They posted another 100-point regular season in 2015-16 and their victory over Florida was their first playoff triumph since 1993. They had also handed the Lightning a loss during the final week of the regular season, a 5-2 New York win in what was the Lightning's first game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. So the Islanders entered the second round feeling confident about their chances.

Game One took place on April 27, a full six days after the Lightning had played Game Five against Detroit. Is it possible that the layoff had an effect on the Lightning? Yes, although Tampa Bay scored the game's first goal, an Ondrej Palat tally just over three minutes into the game. But then the Lightning committed a couple of costly mistakes before the period ended. Twice they left New York's Shane Prince alone in front of their net. Prince converted both times, including his second goal that came with less than three seconds left in the period. Add in a five-hole goal that Ben Bishop allowed to Travis Hamonic and the Lightning were looking at a 3-1 deficit after one. When John Tavares scored a power play goal off the rush at 8:59 of the second, a long range tally that beat Bishop on the short side, it was 4-1. It was also the end of the night for Bishop. In relief, Andrei Vasilevskiy didn't allow a goal. The Lightning popped in two third period goals to cut the deficit to one, but the Isles sealed the win with an empty-netter.

In many ways, Game One was an ugly loss for the Lightning. The poor defensive play on the Prince goals and Bishop's uncharacteristic leaky night were tough to watch. But there were some silver linings. After the rough start, the Lightning consistently controlled play. They almost rallied from a three-goal deficit. They outshot the Islanders, 17-5, in the third period. They held New York to only 22 shots. And, if not for the play of goalie Thomas Greiss, they might have successfully completed their comeback.

In Game Two, the Lightning carried over their strong play from the end of Game One. They also cut down on critical defensive mistakes. And in net, Bishop reverted to his usual, stingy form. Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat converted on a two-on-one at 6:03 of the first period - Johnson finishing an in-alone backhander past Greiss. That opening goal came less than a minute after the Lightning killed an early penalty. Similarly, they made it 2-0 at 11:55 just over a minute after getting through another PK. Jonathan Drouin slipped a backhander through Greiss' pads. The Isles would eventually convert on their third power play chance of the period - but the Lightning still maintained a 2-1 lead.

After facing three first period kills, the Lightning only had two others in the final 40 minutes. They also held New York to just eight total shots in the second and third periods combined. Victor Hedman's power play goal halfway through the second made it 3-1. With the Lightning's strong defensive performance, the two-goal lead was more than the Isles could overcome. Johnson added an empty-netter and the Lightning had evened the series.

In Game Two, Bishop only faced 20 shots. During the first period of Game Three, the Isles nearly equaled their Game Two total. In what was their most dynamic offensive period of the series to that point, the Islanders applied heavy pressure, put 17 shots on net, and amassed a handful of Grade-A scoring chances. But Bishop stopped 16 of those, allowing only a Josh Bailey goal at 7:55. And when Ryan Callahan scored a power play goal on a deflection at 19:47, the Lightning escaped the period tied at one.

The late Callahan goal had an effect on the game's momentum. In the second period, the Lightning pushed back with 17 shots on goal of their own. They also grabbed a momentary lead - Hedman blasted in a one-timer following a Johnson offensive zone faceoff win. But Nick Leddy answered for New York to tie the game before the period ended.

The third period was a wild one. The teams combined for four more goals. Twice the Islanders took the lead before the Lightning tied it. After Bailey tallied his second of the game at 2:27, Vladdy Namestnikov finished a no-look centering feed from Valtteri Filppula at 3:25 to even the score at four. Still, Clutterbuck scored with 8:37 left to make it 5-4 and the Isles held that lead until the final minute of regulation. The Lightning pulled Bishop for an extra attacker. Drouin dragged the puck down the left boards and drew the attention of three New York defenders. That allowed Nikita Kucherov to slip unnoticed into the slot. Drouin got him the puck and Kucherov finished a one-timer past Greiss to tie the game at 19:21.

In their first round series win over Florida, the Islanders won three games in overtime. But overtime in Game Three didn't last long enough for them to even record a shot on goal. With the extra session just past the two and a half minute mark, Brian Boyle checked New York defenseman Thomas Hickey at the Islanders blue line. With Hickey out of the play, Boyle took the puck into the offensive zone on a three-on-two rush. His pass to Ryan Callahan slid past Callahan, but ended up on the stick of Victor Hedman, who was also joining the play. From the slot, Hedman shot the puck but missed the net. It caromed off the end boards to the other side of the net, where Boyle stopped it with his skate, maneuvered it onto his stick, and put it in the net before Greiss could fully recover.

Game Three was a gut-punch loss for the Islanders, who failed to protect three separate one-goal leads. For the Lightning, the emotional comeback win gave them a 2-1 series advantage.

In Game Three, the teams combined to score 11 goals. They netted only three total goals in Game Four. But still, there were a number of similarities between the two contests. As they did in Game Three, the Islanders produced another strong first period in Game Four. They outshot the Lightning, 16-6, and grabbed a 1-0 lead with Kyle Okposo's power play goal at 4:20. But Bishop didn't allow any others, so the Lightning never trailed by more than one goal. Once again, the Lightning pushed back in the second period, outshooting New York, 11-6. Just like in Game Three, they tied it in the third with a Kucherov tally. This Kucherov goal didn't require a sixth-attacker - it came before the period was halfway done. Alex Killorn won a puck battle in the corner of the offensive zone and gave it to Johnson behind the net. Johnson set up Kucherov at the left circle for a one-timer. On the play, Greiss had his pads down while Johnson was behind the net - he was protecting against a potential wrap-around. When Johnson passed it towards the boards, Greiss started to get up on his skates. Then he saw Kucherov ready to accept the pass. So he started to go back down into a butterfly position. But Kucherov shot the puck so quickly that Greiss was still going down and not yet set. The puck slipped past him, sailing over his right pad and under his blocker.

In overtime, as in Game Three, the Lightning won it early before the Isles even posted a shot on net. The goal came on just the second shift of the extra session. Palat gained control of the puck in the offensive zone. Moments later, Jason Garrison took a shot from the right point. Johnny Boychuck blocked the shot, but the puck ricocheted to Andrej Sustr at the left point. Sustr slid it back to Garrison at the right point. He one-timed a slapshot past Greiss on the far side of the net. A big key to the goal was that Sustr and Garrision, once the Lightning gained possession in the offensive zone, switched spots at the blue line. They were both on their "off" sides, which created a better shooting angle for Garrison.

The Lightning didn't squander their opportunity to wrap up the series in Game Five. They delivered their best overall performance in the series. They jumped on the Islanders early, getting goals from Hedman and Boyle to build a 2-0 first period lead. When Hedman added his second of the game, a power play goal at 4:22 of the second, it was 3-0, and the dye was cast. The Lightning had taken hope away from their opponents - that was evident in how little pushback they faced from the Isles. Kucherov completed the scoring, converting on a breakaway early in the third. Bishop made 28 saves to record his second straight series-clinching shutout of 2016. Thanks to the team defensive play in front of him, though, they were a quiet 28 saves. The Lightning were heading back to the Eastern Conference Final.

There were some key moments that defined the series. The first period of Game Two, when the Lightning had to kill three penalties and still came out of the frame with a 2-1 lead. Bishop's play during the first periods of Games Three and Four. Timely goals from the Lightning throughout the series, but especially in Games Three and Four. And terrific defensive play from the Lightning during their wins in Games Two and Five.

Individually, Kucherov had a clutch series. All four of his goals came in the third period of games. His Game Three and Four tallies got the Lightning to overtime. His Game Five goal sealed the series. Bishop, after a rough Game One, rebounded in the final four contests. His first period work in Games Three and Four prevented the Islanders from grabbing big leads. And his solid play in Games Two and Five complemented the Lightning's strong team defense in those contests. Boyle scored two important goals, including the OT winner in Game Three. And Hedman netted four goals in the series.

Next up for the Lightning would be Pittsburgh in a series that featured a key injury, high drama, and one crucial coach's challenge. We'll dive into that series next week.