Lighthouse Hockey - Islanders vs. Lightning Game 1: Prince scores twice in New York's 5-3 winLighthouse Hockey: Try to fixate on something else.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50729/lhh-fav.png2016-04-27T22:31:53-04:00http://www.lighthousehockey.com/rss/stream/112878132016-04-27T22:31:53-04:002016-04-27T22:31:53-04:00Video: Cappy gets Isles Face, battle level high
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<img alt=""Hey, Stromey, how a bit of warning next time?"" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ezwHHoheJPfmbSkCj6D0g3zScVM=/0x54:2240x1547/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49420193/usa-today-9187135.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>"Hey, Stromey, how a bit of warning next time?" | Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In the playoffs, you gotta battle through adversity.</p> <p>Jack Capuano took a puck to the face halfway through the third period of his <a href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Islanders</a>' Game 1 win over the <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>.</p>
<p>Like the gutsy play he preaches to his players, his battle level remained high. He left the bench, but not for long.</p>
<p>The incident came after a Lightning dump-in bounced off the leg of <span>Ryan Strome</span> (a recent healthy scratch, so play with your own metaphors there) and shot over the boards toward Capuano's right cheek. Assistant coaches <span>Doug Weight</span> and Greg Cronin took over down the stretch.</p>
<p>While Capuano was in the dressing room being tended to, the Lightning scored to reduce a once-comfortable Isles lead to 4-3. But Capuano returned to the bench in time to see his team ice the game with a <span>Cal Clutterbuck</span> empty-net goal.</p>
<p>The moment was actually pretty scary: not just for the pain and potential damage to handsome looks, but because the puck went frighteningly close to Capuano's eye.</p>
<p>All good though. Isles got the 5-3 win, Capuano got a battle scar, and the coach has a couple of days before the next game to take care of that shiner. (A bonus for us at LHH: We add another chapter in the <a href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2011/2/11/1978728/diagnosis-islander-face-di-scussing-de-injuries-to-de-faces">annals of Islanders Face</a>, an <a href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2011/2/11/1978728/diagnosis-islander-face-di-scussing-de-injuries-to-de-faces">injury that used to be common</a> but had been eradicated as the rebuild took off.)</p>
<p>Plus, the players had their fun with it:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">JT on Capuano getting hit with a puck "We didn't feel too bad, he's always telling us to block shots and stuff"</p>— Isles Nation (@NYIslesNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYIslesNation/status/725507258109538304">April 28, 2016</a> </blockquote>
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<p>Update: Cappy had fun with it too.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Capuano took puck to the face on 2/1/13, missed 3rd period/OT in Newark. "I've been hit more times (behind the bench) than when I played."</p>— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) <a href="https://twitter.com/StapeNewsday/status/725515170391425024">April 28, 2016</a> </blockquote>
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https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/27/11523690/video-jack-capuano-puck-face-game-1Dominik2016-04-27T22:01:20-04:002016-04-27T22:01:20-04:00Isles 5 (EN), Bolts 3: Prince nets pair in Game 1
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<img alt=""You don't have to be rich, to be my wing / You don't have to be..."" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oJnfX_g2Y1tTMlR5GZg7jlKrArk=/24x0:3207x2122/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49420065/GettyImages-525119968.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>"You don't have to be rich, to be my wing / You don't have to be..." | Mike Carlson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Islanders enjoyed their most comfortable win of the playoffs so far, except playoff wins are never comfortable.</p> <p>Though they gave up an early goal for the fifth time in their playoffs, the New York put themselves in unfamiliar territory by carrying a big lead through much of their first meeting with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>. The result was a 5-3 win, with little sign of fatigue from the Isles after they finished their last series with two double-overtime games.</p>
<p><span>Thomas Greiss</span> continued his excellent playoff with 33 saves, <span>John Tavares</span> continued his pace with a goal and an assist, and the line of <span>Shane Prince</span> (two goals for the Artist Formerly Known As), <span>Brock Nelson</span> and prodigal <span>Ryan Strome</span> (two assists each) combined for two goals to give the Isles a 3-1 lead by the end of the first period.</p>
<p>A late Lightning surge in the third period made it close, uncomfortably so at times, but Greiss held strong.</p>
<p align="center">[<a href="http://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/boxscore?id=2015030211" target="_blank" data-ref-index="11">Box</a> | <a href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20152016/GS030211.HTM" target="_blank" data-ref-index="12">Game Sum</a> | <a href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20152016/ES030211.HTM" target="_blank" data-ref-index="13">Event Sum</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://war-on-ice.com/game1.html?seasongcode=2015201630211">War on Ice</a> | <a data-ref-index="15" target="_blank" href="http://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20152016&game=30211">Natural Stat Trick</a> ]<br><b>Recaps</b>: <a target="_blank" href="http://islanders.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2015030211&navid=DL%7CNYI%7Chome" data-ref-index="16">Isles</a> | <a href="http://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2015030211" data-ref-index="17">NHL</a> |</p>
<p><iframe src="http://vplayer.nbcsports.com/p/BxmELC/nbcsports_embed/select/media/VYw3I8OPNOuY?autoPlay=false" frameborder="0" height="351" width="624">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>It was hardly a great start for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">Islanders</a>. Neither team was dominant, but the Lightning were more assertive and had the first few shots.</p>
<p>They also struck first, on a breakdown in coverage by the Isles and a goal that won't have put Ryan Strome in the coaching staff's good graces. Strome threw a check in the Lightning zone that missed his target, and as the Lightning zig-zagged on their zone entry, he was late getting to <span>Ondrej Palat</span>, the trailing player who took a great feed from <span>Jonathan Drouin</span> to beat Thomas Greiss from the high slot.</p>
<p>But the Lightning's 1-0 lead, achieved at 3:05, didn't last three minutes.</p>
<h4>Cizikas Hit on Condra Creates Early Bad Blood</h4>
<p>In the interim, <span>Casey Cizikas</span> threw a vicious but (barely) legal on <span>Erik Condra</span> in the corner that knocked Condra out of the game. Condra was at an awkward distance from the corner boards as he passed the puck, and Cizikas' check sent him flying backward to the part where the boards curve and become harder to brace against. (Any feelings of guilt about the heaviness of Cizikas' check could be eased by remembering how former Ranger Ryan Callahan plays.)</p>
<p>Whether there was any "momentum" factor or not from that hit and the Lightning's loss of a defenseman, the Islanders got a good bounce to start their comeback. On decent pressure from the Isles, <span>Travis Hamonic</span> picked up a puck ringing around the boards and slung it toward <span>Ben Bishop</span>, who was screened by Kyle Okposo. The puck dropped through Bishop's pads for an equalizer at 5:44.</p>
<h4>Isles Take the Lead Late in the 1st</h4>
<p>The Islanders had a couple unsuccessful power plays before taking a lead on two late goals with identical scoring lines: Shane Prince from Ryan Strome and Brock Nelson. Prince's first goal was a great pass across the crease by Strome, though Prince's lucky may have been a little lucky to slide on the ice through Bishop's pads.</p>
<p>That gave the Isles a 2-1 lead at 17:28. They extended it with just three seconds left in the first period when the Lightning, including Ben Bishop, checked off. Strome fed from behind the net to Prince, who scored far high corner over Bishop.</p>
<p>It's strange: Ben Bishop is a very good goalie, rightly in consideration for the Vezina and supported for that award by reporters that cover his team. Yet, there have been times where the Islanders more than have his number...more like he's just looked <i>bad</i> against them.</p>
<p>Tonight his reactions on several goals were slow, almost casual. His stick position on Prince's second goal to finish the first period was puzzling, as if he was preparing for a poke check to block a pass but then didn't react at all when that pass went to the circle instead of across his crease.</p>
<h4>Bishop Bounced, Greiss Stays Stellar<br>
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<p>The goal that bumped Bishop from the game came on the power play, though was an atypical power play goal: John Tavares simply carried in, fired from the top of the left wing circle, and beat Bishop on his near post. That ended Bishop's night just nine minutes into the second period, having conceded four goals on 13 shots.</p>
<p>The Isles tested <span>Andrei Vasilevskiy</span> a little bit early on, but otherwise the rest of the second and the early part of the third settled into a game where both teams played as if the outcome was inevitable. Things didn't pick up again until the Lightning got back on the board, when <span>Nikita Kucherov</span> converted at 7:41 on a great cross-ice feed from Matt Carle.</p>
<p>Kucherov's goal came after great pressure from the Lightning, and it inspired them to not let up. They poured it on for the next 10 minutes, and once again Thomas Greiss was the reason the Isles held on to their gains. Greiss had been key in the first period too, in particular stopping <span>Alex Killorn</span> and Palat on chances where they broke in all alone. He kept things safe in the dying seconds of the second period, too, including a breathtaking toe save as time expired.</p>
<p>But the saves Greiss made as the Lightning pressed for more late in the game were too numerous to detail. When they say you need great goaltending to win in the playoffs, even with a three-goal lead, this is what they mean.</p>
<h4>Capuano Gets a Shiner</h4>
<p>Isles coach Jack Capuano left the bench for a few minutes after taking a puck off of Strome's shinguard and right to the face. That thrust <span>Doug Weight</span> into the head role with the forwards, while Bob Corkum came to the bench to provide a third man with Weight and Greg Cronin. Capuano returned for the final couple of minutes, making him plus-3 on the night.</p>
<h4>The Lightning Make it Scary</h4>
<p>Greiss was finally beaten for a third goal on a crazy series of bounces, after a Lightning power play expired but by fluke and luck the puck wasn't cleared. It got caught in a Lightning player's equipment for several beats while everyone kind of wondered if there might, you know, be a whistle. Instead it finally dropped, an Isles clearing attempt failed, a shot bounced off Johnny Boychuk's skate and was caught by <span>Valtteri Filppula</span>, who put it down, swatted at it, and got his own rebound that finally fluttered over Greiss.</p>
<p>The Lightning pulled Vasilevsky for a sixth attacker after an icing with 1:39 left to go.</p>
<p>After a bit of pressure off the ensuing faceoff, the fourth line (with <span>Nikolay Kulemin</span> on instead of <span>Matt Martin</span>) sealed it. Casey Cizikas got the clear and fed <span>Cal Clutterbuck</span> at the Lightning blueline for an empty-net goal.</p>
<p>It was tighter than you'd expect it to be after they built a 4-1 lead, but as tight as it should've been given the closeness of these two teams and the way Bishop's play enabled the outsized Isles lead.</p>
<p>In other words, even if the Isles had held on to keep the score 4-1, it shouldn't change expectations for a very tight series.</p>
<h4>Next Up</h4>
<p>And now, two days off in Florida before Game 2 Saturday. Then two more days...it will be a long series no matter how many games it takes.</p>
https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/27/11522990/islanders-vs-lightning-playoffs-game-1Dominik2016-04-27T18:45:03-04:002016-04-27T18:45:03-04:00Islanders-Lightning [Game 1 discussion thread]
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<img alt="Keep 'em away from JT, Fransie!" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XrZep7HA75ZaaC74c1gVzNoMz0M=/0x62:3049x2095/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49418313/usa-today-9211245.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Keep 'em away from JT, Fransie! | Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Islanders and Lightning get right to it.</p> <p>With the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">Islanders</a> finishing their first-round series with two double-overtime wins just three days before the next round begins (and hours before the full first round concludes in Anaheim), tonight willl either be "too quick of a turnaround" or "a carryover of intensity against a rusty opponent."</p>
<p>You know how that goes.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> were the first team to finish their first round series, not that it helped speed two key players back to health. Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman are still out injured, though Stralman might return from his broken leg some time later in the series. He broke his leg in a tangle with <span>Anders Lee</span>, who is also missing this series due to a leg break (courtesy: <span>Johnny Boychuk</span> rocket).</p>
<p>The Islanders were predictably mum on lineup decisions, but turns out <span>Josh Bailey</span> did <em>not</em> make the trip. So it's a good guess that <span>Ryan Strome</span> would return to the lineup after being scratched for the two double-OT victories to close out the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/">Panthers</a>.</p>
<h4>How to Watch: Islanders at Lightning Game 1</h4>
<p>Alas, local TV broadcasts cease after round one. All games are exclusively on national rights holders from here on out. <a href="http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=880482">MSG+ will still do on-site post-game coverage</a>, however.</p>
<p>7 p.m. EDT | NBC Sports, CBC, TVA<br><a href="http://nhlstream.nbcsports.com">NBC Live stream</a><br>Lightning blog: Raw Charge</p>
<p>The series should be close. They only played three times during the regular season -- each team had a blowout win, while the Islanders also had a one-goal comeback 3-2 win. Lightning coach Jon Cooper kind of summed it up:</p>
<blockquote><p>"The last time they came down here, they'd been on the road for a while, it was one of those nights where everything we were shooting was going in," Cooper said. "And when we went up there everything they shot went in. I don't know. I don't put a whole lot of stock into what we did in the regular season. I put a lot of stock into what they did against Florida."</p></blockquote>
<h4>Lineups</h4>
<p>What we know for sure is <span>Thomas Greiss</span> and Ben Bishop will be the goaltenders. Beyond that, both teams are mum but are likely to stick with what concluded the last round, minus an injury or two:</p>
<h5>Islanders</h5>
<p align="center"><span>Alan Quine</span> - <span>John Tavares</span> - <span>Kyle Okposo</span><br><span>Nikolay Kulemin</span> - <span>Frans Nielsen</span> - <span>Brock Nelson</span><br>Ryan Strome* - <span>Shane Prince</span> - <span>Steve Bernier</span><br><span>Matt Martin</span> - <span>Casey Cizikas</span> - <span>Cal Clutterbuck</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>Nick Leddy</span> - <span>Travis Hamonic</span><br>Calvin de Haan - Johnny Boychuk<br><span>Thomas Hickey</span> - <span>Marek Zidlicky</span></p>
<p align="center"><em>*expected to take Bailey's place<br>**assuming <span>Ryan Pulock</span> is still out</em></p>
<h5>Lightning</h5>
<p align="center">Alex Killorn - <span>Tyler Johnson</span> - <span>Nikita Kucherov</span><br><span>Ondrej Palat</span> - Valtteri Filppula - Jonathan Drouin<br><span>Cedric Paquette</span> - <span>Vladislav Namestnikov</span> - <span>Ryan Callahan</span><br><span>Brian Boyle</span> - Mike Blunden* - Erik Condra</p>
<p align="center">Victor Hedman- Matthew Carle<br>Jason Garrison- Andrej Sustr<br>Braydon Coburn - <span>Nikita Nesterov</span></p>
<p align="center"><em>*may be <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/could-jonathan-marchessault-make-16-playoff-debut-tonight/2274905">replaced by speedy Jonathan Marchessault</a></em></p>
https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/27/11521928/nhl-playoffs-islanders-vs-lightning-game-1-discussion-threadDominik2016-04-27T15:39:59-04:002016-04-27T15:39:59-04:00Isles-Lightning: 5 Questions with Raw Charge
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<figcaption>"I SAID lemme ask you some questions!" | Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's been a wild ride since last these two teams met here.</p> <p>Last time the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> met in a playoff series, the two teams were actually headed in opposite directions.</p>
<p>Despite new ownership that had invested in the club, the Isles were still mired in drama over how they would ever replace, or extract more revenue from their awful lease with, the beloved but flawed Nassau Coliseum. On the ice, despite a short-term boost from that ownership willing to increase spending despite poor revenues, decisions were still at the mercy of a madman in the GM chair.</p>
<p>The Isles finished 21 points ahead of the afterthought <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">Rangers</a> in the final season of pre-shootout NHL. But the Lightning were truly on the rise, with a fiery coach and a trio of forward stars, plus an offensive defenseman who would <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/watch-dan-boyle-s-profane-tirade-against-larry-brooks--video-201908323.html">one day follow his then-coach in publicly cussing</a> out Larry Brooks.</p>
<p>After some locker room shenanigans between the two teams, the Bolts dispatched the Isles on their way to the Cup. Then the league and NHLPA, in their <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/9/14/3330722/nhl-lockout-2012-fehr-bettman-spin-machine?_ga=1.129941452.1596618231.1311175805">infinite wisdom</a> on how best <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/10/10/3482294/nhl-lockout-2012-league-nhlpa-money-cba">to take and divide your money</a>, canceled a whole season.</p>
<p>In the intervening years, the Lightning were sold to clowns who had nowhere near the stable resources they pretended to have. The team bottomed out before Gary Bettman found a legit owner, who found a new general manager, and they are once again among the league's best. The Isles finally dumped Milbury, went through a rebuild, more years of venue drama, and finally found stability with a new franchise star and a new home with working plumbing.</p>
<p>Sports franchises go through cycles -- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/26/11512890/new-york-islanders-playoff-series-win-memories-roundtable">sometimes 23-years long</a> -- that put fans largely at the mercy of whoever happens to own and run the team at any given moment. Now that the Lightning and Isles have both emerged from their latest walks through darkness, they're about to play what should be an entertaining second-round series.</p>
<p>To get a feel for how things look from Tampa's end, we asked longtime Lightning blogger and <a href="http://www.rawcharge.com/">Raw Charge</a> founder John Fontana to field the following five questions. Though the Islanders are missing <span>Anders Lee</span>, <span>Ryan Pulock</span> and <span>Jaroslav Halak</span>, the Lightning have dealt with two more significant injuries:</p>
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<h5><b>1. <i>Life without Stamkos. How have the Lightning adjusted in his absence?</i></b></h5>
<p><b><i> <br> </i></b>Life without the team captain that draws attention and has a great presence and charisma sucks. The process of adjustment I think Isles fans saw firsthand when we were at Barclays Center on April 4<sup></sup> (5-2 Isles win)... Which was also the date Stammer had gone under the knife to remove his blood clot.</p>
<p>A blah end to the regular season didn't quite truly adjust the team, but playing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Red Wings</a> and getting everyone working together did. Mind you, Tampa Bay has shown most of its offense off of one line - not all of it but most seem to be coming from <span>Alex Killorn</span> - <span>Tyler Johnson</span> - Nikita Kucherov's line - but there's been a general effectiveness that's come into being without the services of #91 (ours, not yours. Hi Mister Tavares.)</p>
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<b><i>2. </i></b><b><i>Life without Stralman. How have they adjusted there, and what changes if he comes back this series?</i></b>
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<p>This one has been.... Eh... <span>Anton Stralman</span> is a fantastic presence on the blue line and while there have been sound defensive efforts without Stralman, there have also been glaring lapses at other times, survived by way of <span>Ben Bishop</span> in net.</p>
<p>Our <a href="http://www.rawcharge.com/2016/4/26/11501914/antons-abscence-the-impact-of-missing-anton-stralman-on-the-lightning">new writer loserpoints has a great piece regarding life without Stralman</a>. And yes, Stralman <u>will</u> return during the series (with thanks, in part, to the time between games).</p>
<h5>3. <b><i>Seemed like dispatching the Red Wings was fairly easy as far as playoff series victories go. But are there any areas of concern that popped up or were amplified as a result of that series?</i></b>
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<p>Will referees haunt us like they did all over again? We faced 25 penalty-kill sessions during the series, and while we staved off Detroit's power play... well, the Red Wings offense wasn't a consistent spark for the team during the season. Pair that okay-but-eh?</p>
<p>The state of the Tampa Bay defense without Stralman, paired with the Islanders power play ability, and you have all the makings of potential issues.</p>
<p>There's also the point that it was easier to see contributions from the top line that Tyler Johnson centers. If two lines aren't able to score, if it's that top-heavy with offensive threat, that makes the offensive scheme easier to shut down if the opponent can lock down that top threat.</p>
<p><i>(Ed. note: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/26/11507214/a-panthers-fan-claims-the-refs-rigged-a-playoff-series-for-the">Apparently referees handed the Isles their last series win</a>, so...screw all of Florida! The NHL shadow government is on our side!)</i></p>
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<b><i>4. </i></b><b><i>What has been the difference between last year's Cup finalist and this year's team? Was it just a matter of shaking off the hangover and getting their groove back?</i></b>
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<p>Overblown expectations is one thing I've long clung to regarding this season. Before game 1 was ever played, certain local columnists were bellowing how it was a Cup-or-bust season for the Bolts. Anything less than the Glory of Lord Stanley's Cup and the Lightning are a vicious failure and blah-blah-blah-blah. Eighty-two games have to get played, and it's a challenge (for any team) to survive that, let alone strive... And yet surviving just wasn't what Tampa Bay was being pushed to do by certain media and fans. The Lightning had to do it all and then some before even getting to the playoffs.</p>
<p>I think they got clouded in expectations driven by accomplishments from last season. This season isn't last season and never is... You have to approach it without thinking of what you just did, but what needs to be done going forward.</p>
<p>Certain things didn't click right. The Jonathan Drouin situation is a great example of that, he was supposed to click with everyone and become this immense contributor on offense... That didn't happen. He had flaws, he had issues, the club had other depth and assets to help bolster their game, all hell broke loose (distraction wise) by way of it.</p>
<p>To cut back to the point: It's having expectations leading more than the drive to accomplish that stunted Tampa Bay a bit. It didn't stop them (we wouldn't be having this conversation if it did, Eastern Conference Semifinal opponent), but it did mar things just enough for opponents to take advantage and slow the Lightning down a notch.</p>
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<b><i>5. </i></b><b><i>Be honest. Are you happy the Isles knocked off the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/">Panthers</a>?</i></b>
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<p>Actually, no. That's not because I see the Isles as a bigger threat to overcome or because of anything against the Islanders. It's more about a long overdue rekindling of regional rivalry in Florida.</p>
<p>Think of it this way: if the Isles had to face the Rangers or the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">Devils</a> in an Eastern Conference Semifinal or Conference Final, Isles fans would be stoked and the opposition as well, wanting to take out this other threat from the region and gain reign over the tri-state area, etc. Rivalry stuff that you see play out in the regular season with those clubs and with other NHL clubs that are close to each other and have a history.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay and the Florida Panthers have never faced each other in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl-playoffs">NHL playoffs</a>. It's been 20 years since both teams were in the playoffs at the same time. It's felt that long since games between the two clubs got heated / seemed to hold weight and relevance.</p>
<p>That's not trying to play down the Islanders. Depending on how things play out, <i>we </i>could end up having heated-rival like shenanigans down the road in seasons ahead. It's just having weighty games that we've lacked against an in-state competitor would have been interesting. It also would have let hockey fans in Florida point and laugh at those who still adhere to the opinion hockey doesn't belong in the Sunshine State.</p>
<p><i>(Ed. Yeah, that's what I was getting at. Had the Isles fallen, one consolation was getting to see the first Battle of Florida. Hopefully it happens sometime soon.</i></p>
<p><i>Thanks to John for sharing his time! Good luck to his team...next year.)</i></p>
https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/27/11520316/islanders-vs-lightning-playoffs-2016-stamkos-stralman-injuriesDominik2016-04-27T07:36:28-04:002016-04-27T07:36:28-04:00[Gameday 2.1 Bits] Starting in Florida again
<figure>
<img alt=""Bye, y'all! We'll see you soon but we have to go to Florida for a while. No not that Florida, the Original 24 one."" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xZRWYKDSjHNXmhxm-WfHy3iUMoo=/0x170:3779x2689/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49410809/usa-today-9268214.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>"Bye, y'all! We'll see you soon but we have to go to Florida for a while. No not that Florida, the Original 24 one." | Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Who's better? In what way?</p> <p>No rest for the weary! For the first time since the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a> were reigning <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl-playoffs">Stanley Cup</a> champions, the NHL will begin a series from one round while a series from the previous round has yet to conclude. And no, it's not weather or Act of Bossy-related, it's just arenas and TV and stuff.</p>
<p>The Islanders are the "beneficiaries" of this quirk, starting their series in Tampa tonight. They're hoping the short break helps them pick up where they left off.</p>
<h4>Islanders News</h4>
<ul>
<li>The schedule is out. We start in Tampa tonight. Then we sit for two days. Repeat four times. [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/26/11512856/nhl-playoffs-2016-islanders-vs-lightning-series-schedule">LHH</a>]<br> </li>
<li> <span>Josh Bailey</span>, <span>Ryan Pulock</span> and <span>Jaroslav Halak</span> all made the trip to Tampa. Don't expect Halak in uniform anytime soon, but the other two could return this series. [<a href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/injured-islanders-josh-bailey-ryan-pulock-jaroslav-halak-head-to-tampa-1.11734082?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">Newsday</a> | What happens when Halak is ready, is a question <a href="http://nypost.com/2016/04/26/the-seismic-decision-hanging-over-islanders-playoff-run/">the Daily News</a> ponders]</li>
<li>This series should feature plenty of Tavares vs. Hedman, seven years after they were dragged around at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl-draft">NHL draft</a> like show dogs. [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/isles-john-tavares-lightning-s-victor-hedman-linked-by-draft-and-now-playoffs-1.11734069">Newsday</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rawcharge.com/2016/4/26/11510638/steven-stamkos-returns-to-practice">TB Times</a>]</li>
<li> <span>Alan Quine</span> was not a first overall pick, but has become important for the Islanders nonetheless. [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/27/sports/hockey/alan-quine-a-newcomer-to-islanders-introduces-himself-as-a-playoff-standout.html?_r=0">NY Times</a>]<br> </li>
<li>Raw Charge <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rawcharge.com/2016/4/26/11510424/2016-nhl-playoffs-tampa-bay-lightning-new-york-islanders-series-preview-playoff-numbers">looks at the series</a> ahead. <br> </li>
<li>Which team has the edge in forwards, defense, intangibles, etc.? [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/who-has-the-edge-in-the-lightning-vs-islanders-playoff-matchup/2274817">TB Times</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://nypost.com/2016/04/26/islanders-lightning-matchups-the-deciding-factor-in-game-7/">Post</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/islanders/islanders-lightning-matchups-position-by-position-breakdown-article-1.2615086">Daily News</a> (Botte rates the Isles in nearly everything, including "magic"]</li>
<li> <span>Steven Stamkos</span> was back at practice, but don't worry, his return is <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/TBTimes_JSmith/status/725006106758660096">not imminen</a>t. [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.rawcharge.com/2016/4/26/11510638/steven-stamkos-returns-to-practice">Raw Charge</a>] It is cruel though. [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.tbo.com/list/sports-columns-mfennelly/surprise-appearance-by-stamkos-magnifies-his-absence-20160426/">TB Tribune</a>]</li>
<li>A reminder that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Lightning</a> coach Jon Cooper is a Hofstra alum that sat in the Nassau Coliseum seats just like you did. [<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nhl.com/news/lightnings-cooper-was-islanders-fan/c-280480876?tid=280202670">NHL.com</a>]<br> </li>
<li>Heading to Tampa to take in some playoff road action? Here are some craft beers to look for. [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/26/11508602/islander-fans-guide-to-craft-beer-part-3-the-road-fans-tampa-edition">LHH Fanpost</a>]</li>
<li>And some carryover from the last round: Taking down the "best" of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/">Panthers</a> fan conspiracy rants, Fire Joe Morgan-style. [<a href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/26/11507214/a-panthers-fan-claims-the-refs-rigged-a-playoff-series-for-the" target="_blank">LHH Fanpost</a>]</li>
<li>Once <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/news/sporting-scene/the-n-h-l-playoffs-no-refereeing-is-bad-refereeing?mbid=social_twitter">The New Yorker</a> writes about referees missing calls in hockey games, you know the jig is up.<br> </li>
<li>Speaking of shadow governments, the many (well, most) names behind LHH traded reflections on what the last round's victory meant. Safe to say much in our lives has changed since 1993. [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/26/11512890/new-york-islanders-playoff-series-win-memories-roundtable">LHH</a>]</li>
<li> <b>NEW!</b> The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sny.tv/islanders/news/islanders-point-blank-podcast-bonkers-at-the-barc/174670832">Point Blank Podcast</a> is giddy, talking the series, the arena and orange jackets.</li>
<li>You can already buy a t-shirt with the Tavares wraparound on it. [<a target="_blank" href="https://www.5thyeartees.com/products/jt-4-24-16">5th year</a>]</li>
<li>Dan's eulogy of the Panthers is hilarious and amazing in its ability to remember the Panthers by actually lampooning those who mock them. [<a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/eulogy--remembering-the-2015-16-florida-panthers-220637085.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw">Puck Daddy</a>]</li>
<li>Alas, the Panthers' "Spacey in Space" sweatshirt shall be retired. Blame the refs. [<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/panthers---spacey-in-space--sweatshirt-to-be-retired-173241119.html" target="_blank">Puck Daddy</a>]</li>
<li>A reminder why Bryan Trottier was amazing -- like Al preferred him to Gretzky amazing. [<a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/bryan-trottier-seven-stanley-cup-canada-sports-hall-of-fame-new-york-islanders-pittsburgh-penguins-mike-liut/" target="_blank">Sportsnet</a> | <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/wharnsby/bryan-trottier-canadas-sports-hall-of-fame-1.3553613" target="_blank">CBC</a>]</li>
<li>Shuffling for Bridgeport as they take a 0-2 deficit to Toronto. [<a href="http://blog.ctnews.com/fornabaio/2016/04/26/whos-here-whos-not-tuesday-notes/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">Soundin' Off</a> | On the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ctpost.com/soundtigers/article/Worth-the-wait-Sound-Tigers-Cliche-shines-in-7377146.php?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter">finally arrived</a> <span>Marc-Andre Cliche</span>]</li>
<li>Mathew Barzal's empty netter sealed Seattle's 3-1 win over Kelowna and a 3-0 series lead. [<a target="_blank" href="http://new.whl.ca/article/thunderbirds-rollover-rockets-3-1-grab-a-commanding-3-0-series-lead">WHL</a>]</li>
<li>Shawinigan curb stomped Saint John 7-3 to take a 2-1 lead in the series. No points for <span>Anthony Beauvillier</span> in the game but that's okay. [<a target="_blank" href="http://theqmjhl.ca/qmjhl-cataractes-rally-past-sea-dogs-7-3-shawinigan-takes-2-1-series-lead/">QMJHL</a>]<br> </li>
<li> <span>Ilya Sorokin</span> is a young KHL star. [<a href="http://en.khl.ru/news/2016/04/26/307998.html">KHL.ru</a>]<br> </li>
</ul>
<h4>Other Stuff, I Suppose<br>
</h4>
<ul>
<li>One of the underrated parts of Monday night was watching this guy tune in to watch Cardinals baseball and instead discover the glory of ice hockey. [<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2016/4/26/11510078/twitter-user-falls-in-love-with-playoff-hockey" target="_blank">SB Nation</a>]<br> </li>
<li>I get why everyone involved in this would say what they said: <span>Dan Boyle</span> tells Brooksie (and Brett Cyrgalis, who wasn't there) to get the hell out of his post-mortem media scrum. [Transcript at <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/dan-boyle-profanely-chases-larry-brooks-out-of-interview-153922269.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw" target="_blank">Puck Daddy</a> | Video at <a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/sharks/dan-boyle-unleashes-profanity-laced-tirade-reporter" target="_blank">CSN Bay Area</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/rangers-dan-boyle-curses-reporters-article-1.2614695">Daily News</a>]</li>
<li>And so there, trade Ryan McDonagah. [<a target="_blank" href="http://nypost.com/2016/04/25/how-much-could-rangers-get-in-a-ryan-mcdonagh-trade/">Post</a>]</li>
<li>More Ranger angst: They kind of wasted Lundqvist's prime. <i>"Lundqvist was hung out time and time again by an abysmal and entirely overwhelmed blueline, but this was more or less the same environment he has played in for years."</i> [<a href="http://www.tsn.ca/the-rangers-have-wasted-lundqvist-s-prime-1.478683" target="_blank">TSN</a>]</li>
<li>Eulogy for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/">Flyers</a> [<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/eulogy--remembering-the-2015-16-philadelphia-flyers-162117086.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">Puck Daddy</a>]</li>
<li>The London Knights produce a lot of pros. (But really now. Please don't count Tavares as one. He was headed for stardom before the Knights acquired him for a playoff run.) [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/sports/hockey/powerhouse-junior-program-becomes-a-springboard-into-the-nhl.html?_r=0" target="_blank">Times</a>]</li>
<li>How the goal horn came to be for those who always wondered. [<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/history-behind-goal-horn-nhl-ubiquitous-scoring-sound-article-1.2613820">NY Daily News</a>]<br> </li>
</ul>
https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/4/27/11515110/islanders-gameday-news-game-1-vs-lightningDominik