Semifinal Series Preview: Islanders vs Lightning

For the second-straight season, the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning are meeting in the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The matchup is familiar, as the team's met in the Eastern Conference Final last year, but the setting is very different, leaving the empty Edmonton bubble for packed houses in Florida and New York. The Islanders are hoping the result is different as well, looking to take the next step and reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1984.
Of course, to do so, they'll have to beat the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the same team that eliminated them in six games back in September.

"We're excited for the challenge, obviously it was a hard fought series last year and we came up short," Matt Martin said. "We're excited to have another opportunity at them, we know how good of a team they are, they are defending champs, so to get where you want to go, have to go through them. It should be a fun series and we're looking forward to it."
A chance to avenge a loss to Tampa specifically isn't a priority for the Islanders, who have made it to the third round in consecutive years by looking inward and getting to their game and letting their process take over from there.
After six-game series wins over Pittsburgh and Boston, respectively, the Islanders know it doesn't get any easier against the defending Stanley Cup Champions. The Islanders are embracing the challenge of testing themselves against the league standard.
"We believe we're a good team and expected to be here," Martin said. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy against a really good Pittsburgh team and a really good Boston team, but coming into this season we expected to be here and we're proud and happy with what we've accomplished to this point, but the job still isn't done. We have our sights set on going all the way."
NewYorkIslanders.com has everything you need to know for the upcoming Isles and Bolts series.

SCHEDULE:

SEASON SERIES:

Didn't have one of those this year.
Due to the NHL's intra-divisional schedule, the Islanders and Lightning didn't meet in the regular season. That said, the Lightning are one of two teams outside the East Division the Islanders have played in the last 15 months, as they met in the Eastern Conference Final last season.
"This is a familiar situation for both teams," Cal Clutterbuck said. "It wasn't that long ago that we found ourselves in this spot, so there's still familiarity there for sure."
Tampa won that series in six games.

KEYS TO THE SERIES:

Bottling Up The Lightning
The Lightning boast one of the most prolific offenses in the NHL and are averaging 3.45 goals per game in the playoffs, good for third, remarkably one spot behind the Islanders 3.58 goals per game.
Tampa has some of the best top-end talent in the NHL, epitomized by Nikita Kucherov's league-leading 18 playoff points in 11 games, followed by Steven Stamkos' 13 points and Brayden Point at 12.
The Islanders faced a similar top-heavy threat in the Boston Bruins' Perfection Line, but the Lightning's supporting case is producing more than Boston's through the playoffs. Alex Killorn has 12 points, while Anthony Cirelli and Ross Colton each have three goals, giving the Lightning some added depth to go along with their big guns.
Blake Coleman (1G, 3A) and Yanni Gourde (2G, 1A) can also chip in offensively, while Pat Maroon and Barclay Goodrow each have a game-winning goal to their names this season. Priority number one will be containing Kucherov, Point and Stamkos, but the Lightning can bring the noise up and down their lineup.
"They're just a heck of a hockey team," Mat Barzal said. "They play the right way and have a lot of depth. It's just going to be a battle of a series once again like it was in the bubble and we're looking forward to the challenge."
The Islanders can lock it down when they have a lead, as evidenced by their closeout efforts in Game 4 - when they held Boston with one shot in the final 6:18 - Game 5 - four attempts in the final four-and-a-half minutes - and Game 6, where they held Boston to five shots in the third period.

Islanders Balanced Offensive Approach
While the Islanders lack a truly dominating top line in the mold of Boston or Tampa Bay, they're able to get contributions from up and down their lineup.
The Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey line led the way with 19 points (9G, 10A) against the Penguins. They passed the baton off to the Kyle Palmieri, JG Pageau and Travis Zajac line against the Bruins, as that trio combined for 14 points (7G, 7A).
Mathew Barzal burst on the scene with a team-high tying six points (3G, 3A) against the Bruins after a relatively quiet First Round. Linemates Jordan Eberle (1G, 4A) and Leo Komarov (2A) combined for an additional seven points, giving the line 13 points in the series.
Add in a pair of goals from Casey Cizikas - including an OT winner in Game 2 - and all four lines found the back of the net. In total, 16 of 18 Islanders players hit the scoresheet against Boston, with 14 players recording two points or more. Additionally, Nelson scored all three of his goals against Boston in the last four periods of the series, so he's coming in red-hot.
The Islanders committee approach is one of their strengths and it's yielding results, as the Isles have scored four or more goals in eight of their 12 playoff games. That's not to say they're looking to get into a track meet, but they can take advantage of their opportunities offensively and have outscored two teams with plenty of firepower.
"We have a group of guys who have been together quite a while and we've added some key pieces," Bailey said. "You get in these high-intensity games and guys just keep showing up for one another. It just builds a bond and it's going to be no easy task, Tampa has a great team, defending Cup champs, so it's going to be tough, but we believe in ourselves and know we're going to need our best to take them down."
Goaltending Matchup
As offensive as both the Islanders and Lightning are, they'll have to contend with a pair of world-class goalies between the pipes.
Semyon Varlamov acquitted himself well against the Boston Bruins, going 4-1 with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage in five games. Varlamov saw 40 or more shots in three of his five starts against Boston and was cool under fire and was unfazed after allowing a sharp-angled OT winner to Brad Marchand in Game 3.
The veteran put up solid numbers against the Lightning last postseason, with a 2.46 GAA and a .921 SV%, numbers slightly deflated by a relief appearance in the 8-2 series-opening loss. Varlamov kept the Lightning to two goals or fewer in three of his five starts, including a pair of OT contests to finish the series.
Should Varlamov need to come out of the net or any reason, Ilya Sorokin was spectacular against the Penguins in the First Round, going 4-0 with a 1.95 GAA and a .943 SV%. His only loss came in Game 1 against Boston and he has yet to play since. Sorokin has never played the Lightning in his short NHL career.
Across the ice, Andrei Vasilevskiy is up to his usual tricks, turning in another quality postseason. Vasilevskiy is 8-3 in the playoffs, with a 2.24 GAA, a .934SV% and two shutouts, including a 29-save clean sheet in the clincher vs Carolina.
Vasilevskiy played his way to a Vezina Trophy nomination with 31-10-1 with a 2.21 GAA, a .925SV% and five shutouts this season. This marks the fourth-straight season the 26-year-old was nominated for the Vezina, including a win in 2018-19.
Against the Islanders last playoffs, Vasilevskiy went 4-2 with a 1.63 GAA and a .933SV%, which presents a big challenge for the Isles.

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ISLANDERS PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Kyle Palmieri-JG Pageau-Travis Zajac
Also known as the 'Trade Deadline' as a result of the trio being acquired by the Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello at the past two NHL Trade Deadlines, was a force and a difference maker in the series against Boston.
The threesome, while toyed with at times at the end of the regular season, became a solidified line in Game 6 against Pittsburgh in the wake of Wahlstrom's absence. They had their work cut out for them in the Boston series as Trotz wanted them to match up against Boston's top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. While they had a defensive challenge in trying to contain one of the top lines in the entire NHL, holding the line to two even-strength points in the three games at Nassau Coliseum, they were also able to do some damage of their own in the series.
After putting up just four points (2G, 2A) in 17 regular-season games with the Islanders, Palmieri has showcased his goal-scoring capabilities around the net front and feisty play. He currently leads the Islanders with seven goals and is riding a three-game goal streak and a five-game point streak with six points (4G, 2A) during that span.
Pageau has maintained his steady play and consistency in big moments as the intense center leads the Islanders in scoring with 13 points (3G, 10A). He ranks fourth in the postseason with a 54FOW%. Pageau is also plus-11 in playoffs, the second best ranking among the Islanders.
Zajac showcased a more tenacious side of his game to match his linemates' play as he was a physical presence in the series against Boston. The veteran winger also earned two points (1G, 1A) through seven games, including the icebreaker in Game 6's dominant 6-2 win.
Nick Leddy Scott Mayfield Pairing
The Islanders defense has shown its ability to shut down top-end talent repeatedly throughout the season and into the postseason. With Boston's deadline acquisition of Taylor Hall, they received a huge boost in being able to roll four lines and deliver a one-two offensive punch as Hall slid alongside David Krejci and Craig Smith in their second line.
But the Leddy and Mayfield pairing was stifling and limited the line to just four points (2G, 2A) at even strength throughout the series.
Leddy's phenomenal skating abilities have been on display in the postseason as the defenseman often transports the puck coast-to-coast for the Islanders' offense, where he's picked up five assists in the postseason.
Mayfield has been a shut-down force for the Islanders and has contributed offensively. The blueliner has totaled five points (1G, 4A) and leads the NHL with his plus-12 rating. Mayfield's 36 blocked shots are the second-most in the league among playoff teams behind Vegas' Alec Martinez (43).

TAMPA PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Ondrej Pala-Brayden Point-Nikita Kucherov
Having returned virtually the same lineup, Tampa benefitted from the immediate offensive jolt it received as Nikita Kucherov was activated off Long Term Injured Reserve to start the playoffs. The Russian winger was able to join his team just in time for Game 1 against Florida in the first round as he returned to the lineup for the first time since last September.
With Kucherov back in the lineup, Tampa reassembled its lethal line with him, Ondrej Palat, and Brayden Point. The trio hasn't shown any hesitation since reuniting as they've already combined for 35 points (15G, 20A) through 11 games. Kucherov has lead the way with his league-leading 18 postseason points (5G, 13A) and is riding a three-game point streak with six points (2G, 4A) in that stretch.
Point's eight goals are tied with Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon and Boston's Brad Marchand for the most in the playoffs. The 25-year-old winger has three goals in as many games. Perhaps most impressively, in the past two postseasons - 34 games - he's compiled 45 points (22G, 23A).
He also joined some hefty company as he required 54 games to reach 60-career postseason points on June 5 - but now has 62-career playoff points (30G, 32A) in 55 games. Only four other active players reached the 60-playoff point milestone faster than him; Colorado's MacKinnon (42 games), Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby (42 games) and Evgeni Malkin (46 games) and Washington's Alexander Ovechkin (52 games).
Palat adds a physical presence to the line with Kucherov and Point, both of which are smaller-sized forwards. During the regular season, Palat was on a tear with 46 points (15G, 31A) in 55 games and so far, the Czech winger has totaled 23 hits and totaled five points (2G, 3A) during this run.
Victor Hedman
Since winning last year's Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded annually to the MVP of the playoffs, Victor Hedman has continued to bolster his already impressive resume. Following his 45-point (9G, 36A) campaign in the regular season - which ranked third most among d-men in the NHL - the Swede was named as a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, for the fifth-consecutive season.
In the postseason, Hedman leads Tampa's backend with 11 points on 11 assists, nine of which have been notched on the power play.
Tampa likes to activate its blueline off the rush and Hedman will be a player to be wary of in the Islanders' own zone.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The special teams battle only intensifies the further the playoffs go on and they can be the difference maker in games where goals are hard to come by.
Staying out of the box will surely be a key for the Islanders as Tampa's high-octane offense is amplified on its top-producing man advantage unit. The Bolts power play leads the NHL this postseason with a 41.7% conversion rate (15-for-36) and executed at a 7-for-16 pace against Carolina.
Tampa's top power-play unit boasts a high-caliber group of Alex Killorn, Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman walking the blueline. Point leads the Bolts in PPGs with five, while Kucherov has tallied four and Stamkos and Killorn have each picked up three.
Kucherov also leads the Lightning in power-play points with 13.
Tampa's penalty kill has been solid in the playoffs as well having killed off 28-of-36 attempts for a 77.8% rate. They've scored one shorthanded goal, which came in their first game of the postseason against the Florida Panthers from Blake Coleman.
While the Islanders may not have as many offensive weapons on their power play, they've seen success from both units who are seeming to click. The Islanders power play is striking at a 28.1% rate (9-for-32) after receiving a boost with a three-goal effort in Game 5 against the Bruins. In total against Boston, the Islanders' man advantage went 6-for-16 in the series.
Anthony Beauvillier and Jordan Eberle lead the Islanders in power-play conversions with two goals each, while Mathew Barzal has earned a team-high five points (1G, 4A) on the power play.
On the PK, the Islanders boast a 61.5% kill rate (16-of-26) and gave up seven goals on 14 power play opportunities against Boston. The Islanders haven't scored shorthanded in the playoffs.

INJURIES

The Islanders played the entirety of the series without Oliver Wahlstrom who sustained a lower-body injury in Game 5 against Pittsburgh and has been sidelined and listed as 'day-to-day' ever since. Prior to his injury, the rookie winger had posted three points, including one power-play goal.
Trotz confirmed ahead of Game 6 against Boston, that Michael Dal Colle has still not been an option for the team and has been 'unavailable' with an undisclosed injury. The winger has not dressed for a game in the postseason and last drew in the lineup in the regular season against Buffalo on May 4.
Tampa is benefitting from a fully healthy lineup on this run. It's an advantage the team didn't receive en route to their Stanley-Cup winning run last year where their captain in Stamkos only dressed in one game - against Dallas in the Stanley Cup Final - and Point was battling injury late in the run as he only played in four of six games against the Islanders.