The New York Islanders came to play on Thursday night, as they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-1 to remain in a wild-card spot.
ELMONT, NY -- The New York Islanders came to play on Thursday night, as they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-1 to stay in a wild-card spot.
It was a monumental win as the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, and Buffalo Sabres all won in regulation.
The Islanders are tied with the Panthers in points but hold the second wild-card spot due to the tiebreaker.
LINES:
Anders Lee-Bo Horvat-Simon Holmstrom
Pierre Engvall-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Hudson Fasching
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc-Noah Dobson
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
RAPID RECAP:
Leading up to the game, the New York Islanders discussed how important it was to get off to a strong start. They did so Thursday night, as after twenty minutes of play, the Islanders outshot the Tampa Bay Lightning 12-3.
Lightning netminder Brian Elliott was the difference.
The only even-strength opportunity the Lightning did get came off defensive zone turnover. They registered two shots on their power-play chance, which came after Kyle Palmieri took an offensive-zone penalty, for slashing.
The Islanders needed that first goal, and defenseman Adam Pelech delivered as his wrist shot from the point 3:46 into the second period beat a screened Elliott.
Pelech's go-ahead goal, his sixth of the season, was assisted by Hudson Fasching and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
The Lightning lost forward Tanner Jeannot nine minutes in to a lower-body injury.
Shortly after the injury, Brock Nelson gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead as he roofed a one-timer from the low slot after a strong feed by defenseman Samuel Bolduc for his 33rd of the season.
Just 49 seconds later, Kyle Palmieri showed off patience before he sniped Elliott over the glove to give New York a 3-0 lead with 8:17 to play in the middle frame.
Nelson and Ryan Pulock were credited with the assists on Palmieri's 16th of the season.
The Lightning did get on the board with 3:13 to play in the second following a Sebastian Aho turnover. The puck went to Brayden Point, who quickly fed Nikita Kucherov in the slot, with his shot going underneath the glove of Sorokin for his 30th of the season.
With 19.7 seconds to play in the second, Pulock sniped Elliott from the slot to give New York a 4-1 lead, his fifth of the season.
The Islanders took their commanding 4-1 lead to the third.
Simon Holmstrom added a goal with 4:46 to play in the third as he finished off a strong backhand feed by Bo Horvat for his sixth of the season. Zach Parise, strong on the forecheck, earned the secondary assist.
Bo Horvat scored with 18.2 seconds to play in the third to give the Islanders a 6-1 lead for his 38th of the season. Noah Dobson notched the assist.
Sorokin stopped 29 of 30 shots that came his way for his 29th win.
UP NEXT: The New York Islanders host the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday night at 7:30 PM ET.