Concern of the day: How far can the Isles push the Lightning in this series?
History is on the Lightnings side. This is 2020, and not only can anything occur, but the Islanders are like the cockroaches of the bubble.
To win, the Islanders will once again be looking for production from their leading stars. And if they could get the power play really clicking (the Isles were 1-for-3 on Tuesday, however had some rough stretches on the man advantage), it could be a turning point.
Theyre not letting on that this is the case if the Lightning feel pressure. “It came down to one play,” Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman stated of the loss. “Its tough for us. Its how you react to this that will define you as a team. Were not fretted.”.
Next on the schedule …
The Dallas Stars remain in the Stanley Cup Final for the very first time in 20 years … and theyll need to wait a bit longer to learn who they are playing.
The New York Islanders kept their season alive by besting the Tampa Bay Lightning in a double-overtime Game 5. I want I might state this game was a thriller, but it felt more like filler content, especially as the third period and overtime ticked along.
The Eastern Conference finals will continue on for at least another game, and theres nothing wrong with that.
Have A Look At ESPN NHL Playoffs Today every day of the postseason till the Stanley Cup is distributed in October.
More: What the Golden Knights must prioritize this offseason to improve.
About last night …
New York Islanders 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1 (2OT) (TB leads 3-2).
With the Islanders dealing with elimination, coach Barry Trotz went with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen, and put his lineup into a blender. New York played a structured game, it didnt create much offense. The Islanders had just 24 shots in nearly 90 minutes.
Trotzs message to the group before the game: “Lets have enjoyable with this. Lightning coach Jon Cooper liked the method his group played, and thinks theyll be just fine if they keep playing that way. “I like our opportunities,” Cooper stated.
Game 6: No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. No. 7 New York Islanders (TB leads 3-2)|8 p.m. ET Thursday.
The Lightning blew their very first chance at closing out the Islanders. Can they get it done on Thursday? Something to keep track of: Will Brayden Point, who missed out on Game 5 (along with Game 3) return? “Too hard to inform right now,” Cooper stated straight following Game 5.
The Islanders selected up momentum after an elimination-starving double-overtime win (in which they taped simply 24 shots) on Tuesday. “But I believe as the series has gone, weve caught up in that area.”.
3 stars.
Jordan Eberle, F, New York Islanders.
In the city where he played for the very first seven seasons, Eberle scored maybe the greatest goal of his NHL career. (It would be the biggest goal of his hockey career, however his heroic moments in World Juniors are still a pretty big offer to Canadians.).
” He puts a lot of pressure on himself when hes not scoring,” Trotz stated. “He has a pretty high level of expectations he puts on himself.”.
Semyon Varlamov, G, New York Islanders.
The Islanders goaltender turned away 36 of 37 shots (.973 save portion) to keep the Islanders season alive. “I didnt have a possibility to play a lot of playoff video games in my NHL profession,” Varlamov stated.
Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning.
Hedman scored his 8th goal of the playoffs, the most goals by a defenseman in a single playoff year considering that Brian Leetch of the Rangers scored 11 in 1994.
With the Islanders facing elimination, coach Barry Trotz went with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen, and put his lineup into a blender. The Lightning blew their very first chance at closing out the Islanders. The Islanders picked up momentum after an elimination-starving double-overtime win (in which they taped just 24 shots) on Tuesday. The Islanders goaltender turned away 36 of 37 shots (.973 save percentage) to keep the Islanders season alive. In double overtime, Shattenkirk fanned on a shot from the point, and the Islanders struck for the game-winning goal.
Quote of the day.
— Stars GM Jim Nill on his interim coach, Rick Bowness. Theres no concern that Bowness– who at age 65 is the earliest coach in the league, and has 30-plus years of training experience– has actually made a job with the Stars next season.
SLIDING INTO GAME 6 LIKE … pic.twitter.com/iUSsC2UC3Y— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 16, 2020.
Social post of the day.
Often leaving the bubble isnt all bad, as Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jon Merrill learned after his teams elimination:.
I informed the girls we had a huge surprise. little did they know Daddy was home from the @NHL bubble ❤ pic.twitter.com/sztth8Bo3i— Jess Molina, MSW (@JesMolina) September 15, 2020.
Shattenkirk actually fanned on the shot.
pic.twitter.com/ltIzApXORM— Bar South N Celly ™ (@BarSouthNCelly) September 16, 2020.
Whiff of the day.
Kevin Shattenkirk has actually been a discovery for the Lightning this season. After being purchased out by the New York Rangers, Shattenkirk rehabbed his career on a low-risk, one-year handle Tampa this season, and will have a good market as a complimentary agent this offseason. This, however, was not his finest moment. In double overtime, Shattenkirk fanned on a shot from the point, and the Islanders pounced for the game-winning goal. Its a play he just can not make.
Bubble moment of the day.
The New York Islanders, theyre not going home!
