TAMPA, Fla. -- The New York Islanders held off a late charge and posted a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second-round series Wednesday night at Amalie Arena. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday at 3 p.m. ET here.
How it happened: On the day Lightning goalie Ben Bishop was named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, he gave up four goals on 13 shots and was pulled at 8:59 of the second period and replaced with backup Andrei Vasilevskiy. Entering Game 1, Bishop had given up two or fewer goals in eight consecutive playoff games. After Tampa's optional morning skate, Lightning coach Jon Cooper was asked whether he was worried about the five-day layoff between games. His answer, "Ask me after tonight's game." The rust was evident as the Islanders, who last played a double-overtime victory against the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of that series Sunday night, gained the momentum early. Shane Prince scored a pair of goals for the Islanders, and Travis Harmonic, John Tavares and Cal Clutterbuck (empty-netter) added a goal each. Ondrej Palat, Nikita Kucherov and Valtteri Filppula scored for the Lightning. While Bishop struggled, Islanders netminder Thomas Greiss continued his solid play. He finished with 33 saves, including a handful of timely stops in the third period when the Lightning were pressuring.
What it means: The Islanders will expect the Lightning to respond, and respond well, in Game 2 on Saturday in hopes of a spilt on home ice before the series shifts to Barclays Center in Brooklyn for Games 3 and 4. The Islanders' mantra coming into this series was they deserve to be here, and they played with that mentality in Game 1. Drawing first blood gives the Islanders confidence and momentum, knowing they can beat the Lightning and Bishop.
