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Islanders Take 1-0 Series Lead Over Lightning

By Kenneth Teape

Apr 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) reacts after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in game one of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) reacts after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in game one of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Islanders won their second consecutive Game 1 on the road of the 2016 NHL Playoffs, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Wednesday night.

The New York Islanders were able to take early control of their second round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 5-3 victory Wednesday night. This is the second straight series that the Islanders were able to take Game 1 on the road, as they did the same against the Florida Panthers in Round 1.

It was the Lightning though that struck first tonight. The Lightning got their crowd into a frenzy without wasting much time, as Ondrej Palat scored his second goal of the postseason to give them the early 1-0 lead. But, the crowd would quickly get quiet, and eventually go silent as the Islanders went on a scoring barrage.

It took only 2:39 for the Islanders to tie the game up at one, when Travis Hamonic score his first goal of the postseason off assists from Alan Quine and John Tavares. The Islanders were only heating up at that point, as they would receive a huge boost from youngster Shane Prince.

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Prince would light the lamp twice in the first period, scoring with 2:32 left in the period and then once again with only three seconds left before the first intermission. They were the second and third goals of the postseason for Prince, as both goals were assisted by Brock Nelson and Ryan Strome.

The Islanders would then get on the board again in the second period. Tavares would net his sixth goal of the postseason, this one of the power play variety, to give the Islanders a 4-1 lead. The goal was assisted by Kyle Opkoso and Frans Nielsen, and was also the end of the night for Ben Bishop.

Bishop would be pulled after the Tavares goal, as he brought none of the momentum from his Game 5 shutout of the first round to knock out the Detroit Red Wings. The Islanders were able to beat him four times in his 28:59 on the ice, making only nine saves.

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The Islanders would go into a conservative game plan after that, as they attempted only eight shots on Bishop’s replacement in Andrei Vasilevskiy. But, the Lightning were putting constant pressure on the Islanders, attacking relentlessly.

The Lightning took 36 shots on the evening compared to 22 for the Islanders, but Thomas Greiss was up for the challenge. Nikita Kucherov and Valtteri Filppula would both score in the third period, but Greiss made enough stops, saving 33 shots on the evening, to help the Islanders to the victory.

Next: New York Islanders vs. Tampa Bay Lightning 5 Predictions

Cal Clutterbuck would score his first goal of the postseason with 55 seconds remaining to get to the final score of 5-3. The Islanders will be looking to take a commanding 2-0 series lead on Saturday before returning home to Barclays Center for Game 3 and 4.

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