New York Islanders Take Game One Against Florida Panthers

It wasn’t pretty, but the New York Islanders inched out a win over the Florida Panthers.

After a close sixty-minute battle, the New York Islanders took Game 1 of their qualifying series against the Florida Panthers, by a score of 2-1. The main concern for this Islander team entering this series was if their defense could play well enough to shut down a high-octane offense, with players like Aleksander Barkov and Mike Hoffman.

After a feeling-out process early on in the game, the Islanders would get on the board with eight minutes to go in the first period.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau finished off a great pass by Derick Brassard, who found him cutting to the front of the net for the one time finish.

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The biggest play on this goal was the forechecking of Tom Kuhnhackl, who was able to tie up a Panther player in the corner, as Brassard grabbed the then-loose puck.

Less than four minutes into the second period, the Islanders would double their lead on the power play. A power play that got better and better on each opportunity, with three opportunities throughout this game.

Ready and waiting, Anthony Beauviller received a strong pass from Josh Bailey at the top of the right circle, before sending a one-timer through the legs of Florida netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.

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In the third period, the Panthers would breakthrough on the scoreboard. Just 23 seconds into the final frame, Jonathan Huberdeau would deke to find open space at the bottom of the left circle, before making a move on goal and sliding the puck through the legs of Semyon Varlamov.

This was one of the only times when the Islanders got caught puck watching.

After that goal, the Islanders were able to completely lock down their opposition, dumping the puck in late in the third, using their bodies to pin the rubber against the boards while the clock ticked.

Islanders’ defenseman Johhny Boychuk left the game in the second period after getting hit up high by Mike Matheson.

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Initially called a major penalty, review by Toronto deemed it just a minder. Regardless, Boychuk went to the locker room and never returned.

The main standout in this game was the play of the backline. The ability to clear the front of the net, as well as push the opposition to the outside, is the reason why the Panthers were only able to get a few high-profile scoring opportunities on Varlamov.

The Islanders’ starting netminder looked confident early, playing aggressively and controlling rebounds as best he could. He was able to stop 27 of 28 shots, as it seemed his strong play from Thursday’s exhibition win against the New York Rangers carried over.

Beauvillier, besides recording the goal, had his legs moving. He was the first to loose pucks, using his speed to pressure his opponents and create scoring chances.

Cal Clutterbuck, and the whole entire fourth line, played to perfection when it mattered most. Their forecheck was impeccable, using their bodies to intimate their opponents. Clutterbuck registered three hits and three blocks. That was a common theme, with the fourth line combining for seven hits and five blocks throughout the sixty minutes of action.

Bobrovsky, after being lit up in the exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, played well in this game. While the Islanders, with better shots, could have put this game out of reach, Bobrovsky came up clutch, giving his team a chance to win.

Game 2 is slated for Tuesday at 12:00 PM, as the Islanders will look to continue their strong start to the playoffs, while the Panthers will try to figure out a gameplan to even up the series.