NHL Playoffs: Islanders Attempt To Spark Controversy Ahead Of Game 3

The New York Islanders have made an attempt to spark controversy between them and the Tampa Bay Lightning ahead of Game 3 of the NHL Playoffs in Brooklyn.

It’s safe to say the second round series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders did not get started the way the Lightning or their fans would have hoped. Thankfully, the Tampa Bay Lightning charged into Game 2 ready to regain some ground and tie the series before heading north, deep into the heart of Islanders country, for Games 3 and 4 of the series.

Unfortunately, the first game in the series would have a profound impact on a Tampa Bay Lightning team who was already battling more than their fair share of injuries heading into Round 2. Just minutes into the first period, the Islanders would put some pressure on the Bolts and force the puck back into the defensive zone.

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Erik Condra attempted to play the puck along the boards, just to the side of the Lightning net, where goaltender Ben Bishop stood at the ready when he was on the business end of a stiff shove from New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas. It was no time at all before Condra went down in a heap, hitting his head on both the boards and the ice.

Judging from the look on his face after colliding with the boards, it was fairly certain he couldn’t count to potato let alone tell someone his name. While Condra was able to make it back to his feet after the hit, he did require the assistance of two of his teammates to make it off the ice and back down the tunnel to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s locker room. Condra would not return to the game following the incident.

In fact, Erik Condra still has not made his return to the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup, although, he did take place in the Lightning’s optional skate this morning. This is definitely a good sign that things are progressing as they should. Hopefully, a return is not too far in the future for the veteran winger.

This brings us to today. As you know, the Tampa Bay Lightning is already in Brooklyn getting ready for tonight’s Game 3 showdown with the Islanders. Well, it seems as if the Islanders are attempting to stir up a little controversy with the Tampa Bay Lightning and their fans prior to the start of the game.

Anyone who has ever been to a hockey game in person knows that before the start of the game, there is always a “hype reel” that gets the crowd roaring and ready to go for when the team hits the ice to start the game. Well…according to Dan Lucas from WFLA here in Tampa Bay, one of the plays included in tonight’s “hype reel” is the hit from Cizikas to Condra in Game 1.

It probably pretty safe to say we aren’t the only ones who are raising an eyebrow to this interesting turn of events. While there was nothing inherently dirty or outright malicious on the play, it was a careless incident that resulted in the rather serious and potential catastrophic injury of a player.

Why in the world would you want to use this in a video package that is supposed to get people to cheer? Does this mean the New York Islanders feel their fans should cheer because one of their players was able to “take out” one of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s players? Even the Boston Bruins and their fans showed more respect when Steven Stamkos was injured at the TD Garden back in 2013.

Next: Tampa Bay Lightning Game 3 Injury Update

At the end of the day, it’s a pretty classless move on behalf of the New York Islanders organization. On the bright side, we’re pretty sure if some of the guys in the locker room get a look at this video before puck drop tonight, it will certainly help ignite the fire in their souls and keep them focused on winning the next two games and bringing the series home to Tampa Bay to finish them off.

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