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Islanders vs. Lightning Game 6 Gameday News: Do-or-die tonight at the Coliseum

Facing elimination, but playing in front of the home crowd.

By Steven E. Smith
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders - Game Four
Tonight needs to look a lot like Game 4.
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The New York Islanders face elimination for the first time this postseason tonight at the Coliseum when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6.

Coming off an embarrassing loss, the Islanders need to dig deep and pull out all the stops in front of their home crowd. They expect to be better. And they will be better.

Islanders vs. Lightning News

  • The team site previews Game 6.
  • The Islanders are hosting a pre-game Fan Fest on the plaza; it opens at 5:00 p.m. ET. [Islanders]
  • They are determined to be a “different team” when the puck drops tonight. [NHL]
  • And they are eager to take the ice to shake off the last game. [Newsday]
  • The Islanders have faced elimination four times under Barry Trotz; they are 2-2, including 1-1 against the Lightning. [Newsday]
  • Mathew Barzal received a $5,000 fine, “the maximum allowable under the CBA,” for cross-checking Jan Rutta in the head. [LHH | Newsday]
  • The Islanders have never been much of a ratings draw, but their ratings are up this postseason compared to last postseason. [Newsday]

Non-Playoff Islanders News

  • For the second straight season, GM and President Lou Lamoriello won the Jim Gregory Award for GM of the Year. [LHH | Islanders | NHL]
  • Lamoriello views the award as a team-wide honor. [Newsday | Islanders]
  • The Islanders traded Nino Niederreiter for Cal Clutterbuck and a third-round pick eight years ago. It has worked out pretty well for the Islanders. [NY Post]

Beyond Long Island and West Florida

The Montreal Canadiens won Game 5 on the road over the Vegas Golden Knights and will take a 3-2 series lead back to Montreal.

  • The Habs have good center depth with two young guys and two veterans lining up. [Sportsnet]
  • Wes McCauley, widely considered the best referee in the game, has been out for Round 3 and hopes to be available for the Stanley Cup Final. [Sportsnet]
  • Gerard Gallant, the new coach of the New York Rangers, has been preparing to take his new team to the playoffs. [NHL]
  • Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning has been in his position for a while with very little success, an unusual combination. [Vancouver Is Awesome]
  • But at least they are bringing back the Sedins as advisers. [NHL]
  • Rene Robert, one of the members of the Buffalo Sabres’ “French Connection” line from the 1970s, passed away at the age of 72. [NHL]

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