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Lightning vs Islanders Game 1: Rest versus Rust

By James Yarcho

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 26: The Tampa Bay Lightning take the ice for warm-ups prior to Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Boston Bruins during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 26, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 26: The Tampa Bay Lightning take the ice for warm-ups prior to Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Boston Bruins during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 26, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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It’s about that time, folks! The Lightning and Islanders are about to take the ice to begin the Eastern Conference Finals inside Rogers Place in Edmonton.

For the Lightning, it’s all about their ability to build off the last two rounds. With the emergence of Brayden Point as a bonafide superstar along with the leadership of Victor Hedman in the absence of captain Steven Stamkos, the Lightning have seen role players rise to the occasion and create problems for their opponents.

Andrei Vasilevskiy has been brilliant throughout the postseason and looks to continue his game stealing ways against a formidable Islanders offense.

For the Islanders, the plan is simple; force the Lightning’s third and fourth lines to beat you. Point and Nikita Kucherov are arguably the two most dangerous offensive threats on the ice for either team. Shutting down their line as well as the Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Anthony Cirelli line will be top priority. Yes, the Yanni Gourde, Blake Coleman, Barclay Goodrow line was outstanding against the Bruins, but was that simply a matter of the match-up? Or are they really that good? I get the feeling the Islanders will test that question early on in the first game.

The Islanders are rock solid when they are able to acquire a lead, so forcing the Lightning to score with the third and fourth lines will play right into the hands of Barry Trotz’s game plan.

Both teams will be pressing hard to gain the pivotal early series lead. However, the beginning of period one will be telling as to which team is more prepared. The age old adage of rest versus rust is going to play heavily into this game. The Islanders, though being forced to play seven games after holding a 3-1 series lead, have played three games since the Lightning eliminated the Bruins.

With a banged up Kucherov and Ryan McDonagh having just returned after missing thee games, the rest was certainly beneficial to the Bolts as their players could heal up. However, this is their first game in a week. If they come out a little sluggish, the Islanders can certainly capitalize early and take a quick lead in this series.

It all goes down tonight as the Eastern Conference Finals takes center stage.

Game One Information

Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Islanders – Game One

Where: Rogers Place – Edmonton, Alberta

When: Monday, September 7 – 8:00 p.m. ET

TV Broadcast: NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVA Sports, SN

Radio Broadcast: 970 WFLA, 88.7 FM WRHU, SiriusXM Ch. 91

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