Stanley Cup Playoffs: Eastern Conference Round 2 Preview, Predictions: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Islanders
Stanley Cup Playoffs is in my opinion the best postseason in all of sports. 16 wins separates a team from hoisting Lord Stanley. It is a time where truly anything can happen and the teams that are hungry for a Cup separate from the pack.
The first round of the playoffs proved to be exciting and games become that much more intense every round. Here is my prediction for the Eastern Conference second round match-up between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders.
The reigning Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning was the first team to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in five games. The New York Islanders won a playoffs series for the first time in 23 years as they defeated the Florida Panthers in six games. These are two teams who are hot right now and each had a tough first round match-up.
At the beginning of the season way back in October I had high hopes for the Florida Panthers as hockey had really come alive in South Florida.
The same can be said for Jaromir Jagr. The 44-year-old Czech native was a key factor for the Panthers this season recording 27 goals and 66 points.
Finishing first in the Atlantic division, the Panthers were mixed with veteran experience to up and coming talent in Aaron Ekblad. It seemed as if the stars had aligned and the Stanley Cup could have been on a beach in South Florida come June. The New York Islanders had a different plan in mind.
In front of their fans at Barclay’s center in Brooklyn the Islanders beat the Panthers in game six, thanks to their captain John Tavares finding the back of the net at 10:41 in double overtime. It was the first time the Isles won a playoff series since beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1993.
More puck prose: Panthers/Islanders Round 1 Preview, Predictions
The Tampa Bay Lightning faced a familiar foe first round in the Detroit Red Wings. Jon Coopers’ squad sent the Wings packing early last post season as they defeated them in the first round last year. The Bolts lost in the Stanley Cup Final last season to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Tampa Bay knows how to play in the playoffs and this series proved they can do it without their captain and best player Steven Stamkos. Stamkos did not play in the series as he continues to recover from blood clots.
As for these two teams meet in the second round, this will be a fun series to watch. It is only the second time these two teams have met in the playoffs. In 2004 the two teams faced off in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals with Tampa Bay beating New York in five games and going on to win Lord Stanley.
Playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs second round is unfamiliar territory for the Islanders, whereas the Lightning are seasoned veterans in a sense.
To put it in perspective, John Tavares was only 2 1/2 when New York won a playoff series. The inexperience in the post season may be a big factor for the Isles in this series and not in a good way, they’re simply not used to playing more than 82 games. However, John Tavares and company got a taste of playoff hockey last year only for it to end in disappointment as they were defeated by the Washington Capitals in game 7.
More puck prose: Lightning vs. Red Wings Round 1 Preview, Predictions
In order for Tampa Bay to win this series they will need their top line, otherwise known as the Triplet line (Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn) to step up and produce much like they did in the first series against Detroit (they scored 10 of Tampa’s 12 goals in the series). This line was deadly last post season and for the Bolts to make a deep run and push for a Cup, this line has to repeat their performance.
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Without sniper Stamkos up front and defenseman Anton Stralman on the blue line (broken leg) offense has to step up and carry this team.
Another difference maker in this series is between the pipes. Thomas Greiss has been unbelievable for the Isles since stepping up when Jaroslav Halak became injured but can he play well enough to take this team to the Eastern Conference Finals? Any flaws Greiss may have could be exposed in this series as Tampa has offensive fire power even without Stamkos in the lineup. Any second chance at the puck Tampa will be all over it in front of the net and Greiss has to protect his crease if he wants his team to win.
Ben Bishop who finished the season with a 2.08 GAA and .926 save percent average has continued his spectacular play in the playoffs. He stopped 152 of 160 shots against Detroit. He was a huge key in Tampa’s run last year and he has the same role this year. Bishop is solid in net and has a career record of 17-12 including 4 shut outs in postseason play.
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Goaltending is not something Tampa Bay has to worry about, however staying healthy is. Recently the flu took a toll on the team during their series with the Red Wings. However the Bolts had some time off since ending their series on April 22, they were just waiting to hear their next opponent. The time to rest and recover from both the series and the illness should help Tampa in the second round (If I were in that locker room, I would start taking some vitamins just to be safe).
This is a second round match-up that will be a very interesting series to watch. John Tavares’ Isles squad could be the Cinderella team of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs; many people including myself did not expect them to beat the Florida Panthers in the first round and well look at what they did.
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This team who secured one of the wild card spots is proving to be a team to reckon with in the East and this series is a perfect opportunity to prove that their inexperience isn’t a crutch. Tampa Bay is playing inspired hockey and after being so close to bringing the cup home to the Sunshine State, they’re on a mission this postseason and won’t let the Islanders stand in their way.
This series is going the distance, 7 games. Tampa Bay has essentially the same roster from last season, a lineup which is a threat to the opposing team on the ice. Tampa Bay is an extremely good hockey team. The depth of the Bolts on offense and defense will prove to be too much for the Islanders. Tampa Bay in 7.