Stamkos scored goals No. 40, 41 and 42 on the season to pace the Bolts' attack. Ondrej Palat also finished with three points, assisting on all three Stamkos goals.
By virtue of the win - and Boston's loss earlier in the evening - Tampa Bay is set for a First Round playoff matchup against the Maple Leafs.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
NYI 1, TBL 0
0:32 Jean-Gabriel Pageau (18) - Noah Dobson, Anders Lee
In the opening minute, Noah Dobson stepped into a one-timer from the top of the right circle that appeared to be headed wide but was deflected back on frame and past Andrei Vasilevskiy by Jean-Gabriel Pageau's skates.
NYI 1, TBL 1
11:57 Steven Stamkos (40) - Erik Cernak, Ondrej Palat
The Lightning equalized on a redirection of their own with eight minutes to play in the first period. Erik Cernak spotted Steven Stamkos open at the side of the net and purposely fired his shot wide, allowing Stamkos to tip the puck upstairs on Ilya Sorokin.
2nd Period
NYI 2, TBL 1
9:35 Kieffer Bellows (6) - Unassisted
A fluky goal put the Islanders back in front midway through the second period. Kieffer Bellows drove to the front of the net and forced a backhander on goal that was fought off by Vasilevskiy. The rebound rolled through the crease, popped into the air off the skate of Cal Foote and was inadvertently knocked into the net by the defenseman's stick.
NYI 3, TBL 1
18:48 Josh Bailey (14) - Anthony Beauvillier, Noah Dobson - PPG
The Islanders took a 3-1 lead into intermission on a late power play goal from Josh Bailey. Again, Vasilevskiy was there for the initial stop, this time denying Bailey's slap shot from the right circle, but the rebound deflected off the leg of Mikhail Sergachev and trickled over the line.
3rd Period
NYI 3, TBL 2
1:21 Corey Perry (19) - Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman - PPG
With Brayden Point out of the lineup, Corey Perry took over in the bumper spot on the top power play unit and found the back of the net early in the third period. Perry took a moment to settle Nikita Kucherov's feed from the right circle before snapping a shot past Sorokin's glove.
NYI 3, TBL 3
10:10 Ryan McDonagh (4) - Pat Maroon, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Tampa Bay battled back to tie the game on Ryan McDonagh's fourth goal of the season at 10:10 of the third. McDonagh snuck down from the blue line and was on hand to jam a loose puck over the line when it popped free in front
TBL 4, NYI 3
11:13 Steven Stamkos (41) - Ondrej Palat
The Bolts had numbers on the rush after Ondrej Palat forced a turnover in the neutral zone. Palat dished back to Stamkos in the slot and the Captain perfectly placed his shot into the top corner over Sorokin's glove for his second goal of the night.
TBL 5, NYI 3
17:50 Steven Stamkos (42) - Ondrej Palat, Nikita Kucherov
Stamkos completed his 10th career hat trick with what would go on to stand as the game-winner. Stamkos drove to the far post on the rush and put home a cross-crease feed from Palat to put Tampa Bay up by two.
TBL 5, NYI 4
19:16 Zdeno Chara (2) - Mathew Barzal, Zach Parise
The Islanders made it a one-goal game in the final minute of regulation when Zdeno Chara's shot from the point took a deflection off Perry's stick and snuck past Vasilevskiy.
TBL 6, NYI 4
19:35 Brandon Hagel (25) - Ryan McDonagh, Anthony Cirelli - ENG
Brandon Hagel put the game out of reach with an empty net goal with 25 seconds to play.
