Game 3 Preview: Islanders vs Lightning

NEW YORK ISLANDERS VS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
GM 3 | SEPT. 11 | 8 PM | ROGERS PLACE
LIGHTNING LEAD BEST-OF-SEVEN SERIES 2-0
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Despite being down 2-0 to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the New York Islanders remain confident they can get back into the series, beginning with a strong effort in Game 3 on Friday night.
"That belief is there. We believe in ourselves," Anders Lee said. "The first two games haven't gone the way that we wanted to, but I think we have a lot to build on in Game 2 and we liked the way that we played. If we can build off that and continue to play better as a team, we believe in ourselves to do the right thing. None of that has left our room."

It'll be an uphill climb for the Islanders, as teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series own an all-time series record of 329-51 (.866), including a 5-0 mark in 2020.
ISLES-LIGHTNING GAME 3
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Martin Leaving Mark on Playoffs
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Barry Trotz Availability: 9/10
Ladd, Lee & Clutterbuck Availability: 9/10
ISLES PLAYOFF PROMOS
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One of those 51 teams to rally out of an 0-2 hole was the 2018 Washington Capitals, who were coached by Barry Trotz at the time. The Caps lost their first two games to the Columbus Blue Jackets - at home - but roared back for four-straight wins to advance. It's an experience that Trotz relayed to his team during an off-ice session on Thursday.
"We were down in every series and had to come back," Trotz said of the 2018 Caps. "How we did that was by focusing on one game at a time… You don't look at the big picture, you look the very micro, the shift-to-shift focus, get the first period, the second period and the third period, get the game and then worry about the next game."
The Islanders aren't dwelling on the two previous losses, but are taking positives out of Wednesday's late heartbreaker. Kucherov's last-second goal stung, but the Isles felt like they were the better team for a majority of the game. They controlled the pace, outshot (28-21), out-attempted (59-49) and outhit (23-18) the Lightning, while also winning 56% of their faceoffs.
Trotz preaches process above all else and the Isles believe that if they continue to play the way they did in Game 2, they'll be set up for success and the results will change.
"I think the belief in our room is real good and I feel like this series is real close to flipping here," Trotz said. "Our game is back to where it should be. There are a couple of areas that we know we can be a bit better in and if we are then it could be the difference."

"ALL SIGNS INDICATE" NELSON TO PLAY IN GAME 3:

With no practice on Thursday, Barry Trotz didn't give a definitive answer to Brock Nelson's status, but said "all signs would indicate" the Isles center would be available for Game 3.
Nelson was boarded by Alex Killorn 5:55 into the game, forcing him to miss roughly a period, and later cross-checked in the head/neck area by Barclay Goodrow upon returning. Nelson sported a welt and a cut on his right cheek, but finished the contest, so Trotz anticipates having his second leading scorer and versatile center for Friday night.
"He looks like he will be available," Trotz said. "He came back and played, so to me all signs would indicate he'll be playing."
Killorn was suspended one game for boarding, the league announced on Thursday evening.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders held the Lightning to 21 shots in Game 2, Tampa's lowest shot total of the postseason. The Isles held the Lightning to 10 shots in the first two periods combined.
  - Matt Martin scored the Isles lone goal on Wednesday and now has five goals in 18 playoff games, equaling his same goal total from 55 regular-season games.
  - The Isles were held to one goal for the first time in this year's postseason. They also suffered their first loss when allowing two goals or fewer.
  - The Islanders power play went 0-for-4, with 13 shots) in Game 2, including a five-minute major and a two-man advantage in the third period. The Isles are 1-for-9 in the series with 23 total shots.
  - The last Islander series win when falling behind 0-2 was in 1984 vs. Montreal (0-6 since then). That Isles win is one of only two in the NHL by a team trailing 2-0 in the Conference Finals since the Conference setup was established in 1982. Teams trailing 0-2 in a conference finals are 2-31 all-time.

LIGHTNING NOTES:

• Brayden Point's status for Game 3 is uncertain, as the Lightning didn't practice on Thursday. The Lightning's leading scorer left Game 2 in the second period and did not return.
  - Alex Killorn was suspended for one game by NHL's Department of Player Safety on Thursday for his hit on Brock Nelson in the first period. Killorn was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct on the play.
  - Victor Hedman is riding a four-game goal-scoring streak with seven total points (4G, 3A) over that span. Hedman leads all NHL defensemen with seven postseason goals and has 13 points (7G, 6A) in 15 games.
  - Nikita Kucherov has goals in back-to-back games and six total points (2G, 4A) in the first two games of the series. Kucherov has 22 points (6G, 16A) in 15 playoff games, good for second on the Lightning behind Point.
  - Andrei Vasilevskiy has a league-leading 12 wins in the postseason.
  - The Lightning are 5-0 all-time when leading a series 2-0.
  - Tampa has won six straight playoff games vs the Islanders dating back to the 2016 playoffs and are 10-2 against the Isles all-time.
  - The Lightning are riding a six-game winning streak dating back to their Second Round series vs the Boston Bruins. Tampa has outscored 27-10 on their current six-game run.