Islanders punished by Lightning in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, the New York Islanders failed to show up against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It is an exciting time to be a New York Islanders fan, as for the first time in 27 years, this team was playing in the Eastern Conference Finals. But last night, in Game One against a powerful Tampa Bay Lightning team, it seemed that they forgot to show up.

What happens when you do not show up against a Lightning team that is firing on all cylinders? You get absolutely destroyed, as the Islanders fell by a score of 8-2.

Nikita Kucherov, with one goal and four assists, and Brayden Point with two goals and three assists led the way for the Bolts, making history in the process.

Since it would take about an hour and a half to breakdown every single goal, I’ll make it easy. Sit back and watch a New York Islander team get dominated for the first time this postseason.

More from Puck Prose

• Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
• This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
• 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
• 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
• This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings

Hey, it was bound to happen at least once right?

When warmups began, Thomas Greiss led the Islanders out, signifying that he would get the nod. After his shutout in Game Seven against the Philadelphia Flyers (stopping 16 of 16), it made perfect sense as head coach Barry Trotz said in the postgame that it is very hard to not roll with a goaltender who is coming off a shutout.

But last night’s outcome was not on Greiss, who was pulled early in the game after allowing three goals on nine shots. The defense in front of him was rather poor from the getgo, allowing Lightning players to stand in front of the crease with ease, as Greiss’s eyes were taken away from him.

Less than ten minutes in, the Islanders were in a 3-1 hole, but only had themselves to blame. In an effort to wake his boys up,  Trotz made the goaltender switch, as Semyon Varlamov was now in looking to keep this deficit at two.

However, that move did absolutely nothing to create a spark, as the defense remained as weak as we have seen in quite a while, with the Bolts exposing every hole imaginable.

Not helping their cause, was the fact that the team from the island gave the Lightning six power-play opportunities, in which they capitalized on three. Even when they did not capitalize, they still dominated the offensive zone, tiring out this Islander team.

Credit the Bolts, as their quick moves, quick footwork, and perfect forecheck forced the Islanders into taking these penalties.

It was just a mess. Veteran defenseman Andy Greene struggled in this one, taking two penalties, one for hooking and one for high sticking. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, someone who rarely takes penalties as well, went off for a lazy hooking infraction.

The Islanders were also called for too-many men late, as well a delay of game penalty, as discombobulated is the only word that comes to mind on what we were seeing on the ice.

It got to the point where it seemed like an All-Star game, where the defense was minimal and the goals scored were beautiful.

The Lightning in Game One showcased the abundance of skill the team possesses, and how they can break through the offensive zone with ease, setting up perfectly to cycle.

Cycling was something this team did seemingly every shift, tiring out the Islanders’ units as a whole. When a team can do that, it makes it very hard for an opponent to be able to counteract. Because once the opponent finally corrals the puck, it usually is time for a line change, ultimately giving the puck right back via a dump-in and watching the same thing happen minute after minute.

Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy was not too busy in net, stopping 22 of 24 in the team’s win. He did not have to be brilliant but came up with some key saves while his team continued their domination.

The Islanders did not help their cause with the number of turnovers. While they had fewer turnovers than the Lightning (18 to 20), mishandling of pucks and unintelligent passes were the difference makers, as the Islanders could not capitalize while the Bolts could.

“Every time we made a mistake they scored,” said Barry Trotz. “Their top guys were fresh and sharp and made us pay tonight.”

The Islanders did see their fourth line take a hit, as Cal Clutterbuck left the game after blocking a shot in the second period off the stick of Mikhail Sergachev. He would not return and his status is unknown at this point.

All this team can do is wash this one away. It was a fluke. It was not Islander hockey, the hockey that got them to this point. There is no doubt in my mind that the intensity level will be raised when the puck drops for Game Two on Wednesday.