Play-offs: The Lightning to a victory of the qualification, the Islanders come back to height

Mathieu WARNIER, Media365, published on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 12:07 am

While the New York Islanders came back to two wins everywhere against the Penguins, the Lightning made the break against the Panthers.

The defending champion is very close to the second round of the NHL play-offs. While the Florida Panthers closed the gap by winning Game 3, the Tampa Bay Lightning is just one victory away from qualifying in this series. In the space of eight minutes, Anthony Cirelli and Yanni Gourde gave Tampa two goals, before Jonathan Huberdeau took advantage of a power play to close the gap. Ondrej Palat, at the end of the first period, gave the Lightning two steps ahead. A gap that swelled from the start of the second third with two goals in just over a minute and a half signed Alex Killorn. If Carter Verhaeghe closed the power play gap at the end of the period, Nikita Kucherov sealed the fate of the game early in the last period. The Tampa Bay Lightning won clearly (6-2) and will be able to conclude the series this Monday on the ice of the Florida Panthers.

The Islanders haven’t said their last word

Between the NY Islanders and the Penguins, everything remains to be done! If the Pittsburgh players regained the advantage after Game 3, Game 4 gave the Big Apple players a two-game tie everywhere. After the first 20 minutes in which both goalies had the advantage, the Islanders made the break in just under seven minutes. Josh Bailey unlocked the counter before Ryan Pulock gave New Yorkers more air. The power play was to the advantage of the Islanders, with Oliver Wahlstrom and then Jordan Eberle who, in 24 seconds, increased the lead from two to four goals. At the end of the game and outnumbered, Zach Aston-Reese saved the honor for the Penguins (4-1), who will have to resume this Monday for the second game played in New York.

ICE HOCKEY – NHL / PLAY-OFFS 2021
1st round

Central division
Florida Panthers (2) – Tampa Bay Lightning (3): 1-3
Match 1 – Florida Panthers – Tampa bay lightning : 4-5
Match 2 – Florida Panthers – Tampa bay lightning : 1-3
Match 3 – Tampa Bay Lightning – Florida panthers : 5-6 (ap)
Match 4 –Tampa bay lightning – Florida Panthers: 6-2
Match 5: Florida Panthers – Tampa Bay Lightning May 24
Match 6 (if necessary): Tampa Bay Lightning – Florida Panthers May 26
Match 7 (if necessary): Florida Panthers – Tampa Bay Lightning May 28

East division
Pittsburgh Penguins (1) – New York Islanders (4): 2-2
Match 1 – Pittsburgh Penguins – New York Islanders : 3-4 (ap)
Match 2 – Pittsburgh Penguins – New York Islanders: 2-1
Match 3 – New York Islanders – Pittsburgh Penguins : 4-5
Match 4 –New York Islanders – Pittsburgh Penguins: 4-1
Match 5: Pittsburgh Penguins – New York Islanders May 24
Match 6: New York Islanders – Pittsburgh Penguins May 26
Match 7 (if necessary): Pittsburgh Penguins – New York Islanders May 28