After a heartbreaking loss in Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the New York Islanders bounced back with an exciting victory by a score 5-3.

Brock Nelson’s clutch goal put the Islanders up with less than 5 minutes to go in the game. Their failure to maintain a 3-1 lead was no longer the story. With the addition of an empty net from deadline acquisition Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the Islanders were able to close it out. 

With around seven minutes remaining in the first period, the Islanders continued their chip and chase style where they fought for the puck in the offensive zone. The puck eventually wrapped around to Ryan Pulock who fired a quick shot on the left pad of Andrei Vasilevskiy, which led to a favorable rebound for Cal Clutterbuck who flicked the puck into the top shelf. Although the Lightning argued that Vasilevskiy’s pad was loose and there should have been a whistle, the goal stood and the Islanders led by one. 

The main mistake for the Islanders was their inability to clear the puck from their own zone. In order to win, the Islanders have to control the dangerous shots of stars Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov — and minutes after their initial score, the Lightning came right back with a backhand from defenseman Mikhail Sergachev on a beautiful pass from Yanni Gourde after minutes of pressure in the offensive zone. 

The Islanders held strong in the second period and with 12 minutes gone, the top line of the Islanders did all the work. Mat Barzal passed to Pageau in the middle of their offensive zone who then dropped off the puck to the fan-favorite Adam Pelech who wristed the puck right into the right side of the net. Two minutes later, the triple-b line of Anthony Beauvilier, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey added to the lead when Nelson wrapped around the net leaving a beautiful pass right to Beauvilier.

Coming into the third period the Islanders had all of the momentum, but after giving up a minor penalty, the Lightning capitalized from a tip-in by Ondrej Palat from a perfect pass by Nikita Kucherov. And the Lightning were not done yet. Dominating offensive zone time, the Lightning passed around the boards, and after a saucer pass from Erik Cernak to the front of the net, Tyler Johnson deflected the puck right between Varlamov’s pads and it found the back of the net. Although it looked like Johnson’s stick was above the net while he deflected the puck, the call on the ice stood and the Lightning evened up the score at three. 

With the possibility of falling 3-0 in the series, the Islanders pushed through. After a strong zone entry by Beauvillier, he found Nelson on his second pass attempt who made a stutter step and rifled the puck past Vasilevskiy. Now down by one, the Lightning pulled Vasilevskiy a minute and a half remaining on the clock. After one too many passes, the puck bumped off of Pageau right onto Bailey’s stick who then found Pageau on the breakaway who found the empty net.

Although the Islanders led 5 – 3, there was a clear penalty from Kucherov who hooked Pageau on the way to the empty net. After the score, Pageau attacked Kucherov with full force. As seen in the past couple of games, Pageau has started to become more aggressive which propelled the Islanders to a much-needed victory on Friday night. 

The Islanders will face the Lighting at 3:00 p.m. EST in hopes to tie the series at two games apiece.

John Smark