With a 2-1 victory in double overtime of Game 5, the New York Islanders kept their season alive and forced a Game 6 for Thursday night vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Jordan Eberle scored the double overtime winner to break his cold streak off a gorgeous pass from Anders Lee. Semyon Varlamov made 36 saves on 37 shots to secure the victory for New York.

Contrarily, Andrei Vasilevskiy backstopped 22 of 24. There were 145 combined hits in just over 90 minutes of play, 75 of them belonging to New York.

Islanders vs Lightning Game 5: 1st Period

The stage was set for Game 5. Both anthems were sung, and play began.

The Lightning held play in the Islanders zone for the majority of the first five minutes, and Cal Clutterbuck was called at the 5:01 mark for slashing. Tampa’s power play looked strong and had some good chances, but Varlamov had the answer to everything.

After the man advantage, Tampa continued to press until it turned into a more defensive game, with the neutral zone clogged on both sides and a lot of dump and chase. Johnny Boychuk blocked a couple shots painfully in his return and even lost a skate blade, but played through the remainder of the period.

At the 14:09 mark, Nikita Kucherov was penalized with a trip on Brock Nelson. The first minute of the power-play, the Islanders failed to get any sustained pressure until Mathew Barzal dropped a puck off to Nick Leddy in the neutral zone and he skated it in. He put the puck on a tee for Ryan Pulock, who blasted home the game’s first goal at 101 MPH past Andrei Vasilevskiy at the 15:41 mark of the first. This was the fourth straight game that the Islanders scored first.

The score remained 1-0 Islanders after the first, with shots in Tampa Bay’s favor, 9-5.

Islanders vs Lightning Game 5: 2nd Period

At the 4:00 mark of the second period, Luke Schenn and found Blake Coleman up the right wing with space. He entered the Islander zone with ease and strategically aimed a shot off of Varlamov’s pad. Victor Hedman had space and broke alone in the slot and rifled one past Varlamov. Tie score.

The Islanders responded with some pressure, including a nice curl and drag move by Jordan Eberle on Ryan McDonagh and Vasilevskiy had the answer.

About halfway through the middle frame, Cedric Paquette forechecked on Scott Mayfield and won the puck free and found Carter Verhaeghe coming down the circle. He peeled off and ripped one upstairs past Varlamov, but the goal was called back on a relatively obvious offside.

Paquette was called for a penalty with just under five minutes left in the period, and the Islanders failed to capitalize on their second power play attempt. Just a minute later, Tampa came in on a 4-on-2 and made a gorgeous passing play, but Zach Bogosian was unable to finish it off as he rang the post.

Through 40 minutes, the score remained tied 1-1. Tampa had the edge in shots, 15-11 in a defensive battle.

Islanders vs Lightning Game 5: 3rd Period

Just 0:44 into the third period, Blake Coleman was penalized with interference and put the Islanders on the power1play. They were unable to capitalize, or even record a shot on goal, for the second straight man-advantage.

At around the 4:30 mark, Josh Bailey made an egregious turnover that landed on Hedman’s stick, and was centered to Kucherov who was robbed by Varlamov in the slot.

Ondrej Palat had a glorious chance later in the period in the slot, but Ryan Pulock extended his stick and made a tremendous block before the puck deflected out of play.

At the 18:37 mark of the third, the Islanders were in some trouble. Anthony Beauvillier took a double-minor penalty for high sticking Mikhail Sergachev, who was bloodied and did not play in the final shifts of the period.

New York killed off the first 1:23 of the power play without allowing any great chances, and forced overtime. Shots were 25-16 Tampa through regulation.

Islanders vs Lightning Game 5: OT

The Lightning had 2:37 of carry-over power-play time to begin overtime, and were unable to solve Semyon Varlamov and advance to the Stanley Cup Final. On the penalty kill, Varlamov made a spectacular pad save on Nikita Kucherov which saved the Islanders’ season.

A few minutes later, Matt Martin chipped a puck to a streaking Mat Barzal who was in alone on a breakaway on Vasilevskiy. Barzal tried going glove-side, but Vasilevskiy said no and kept the contest going.

It was a defensive overtime, as each team only recorded four shots on goal before the buzzer for the first overtime sounded.

Islanders vs Lightning Game 5: 2OT

Approximately four minutes into double overtime, Ondrej Palat received a pass from Kucherov and let a shot rip. It went off of Varlamov’s glove, who struggled with it and let it slip behind him. The net was gaping open for Kucherov, but he hit the post and the game still had no resolution.

Chances took place both ways, and then Jordan Eberle called game.

Kevin Shattenkirk received a puck at the point, and completely fanned on a shot. Anders Lee chipped it past him, and had a 2-on-1 with Eberle on the right wing. They entered the offensive zone, and Lee delivered a perfect saucer pass right onto the tape of Eberle who found the back of the net for the first time in four games. And just like that, the game was over. Varlamov slid in celebration, as the Islanders just kept their season alive.

Game 6 will be on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. EST on NBCSN. Doc Emrick will be back on the call.

Game 5: Three Stars

1st Star- Semyon Varlamov

36 saves on 37 shots

2nd Star- Jordan Eberle

GWG (5)

3rd Star- Victor Hedman

G (8), 36:12 TOI