Lightning vs Islanders – Game One First Intermission Report

The Tampa Bay Lightning look rested, not rusted, through the first period of their game against the New York Islanders.

Brayden Point got the scoring started just 1:14 into the game with a nasty goal against starting goalie Tom Greiss. Just a few minutes later, the Isles went on the power play and were able to convert thanks to a rebound opportunity by Jordan Eberle.

Adrei Vasilevskiy made a great save but Lightning penalty killers were unable to secure the loose puck, leaving things open for Eberle to clean up the mess.

After the Isles went on the penalty kill, the Lightning had an opportunity to even up the special teams game and it was postseason hero Victor Hedman who found the back of the net on a missle from the point. Just ninety seconds later, Ryan McDonagh had a shot in top corner that was perfectly screened and led to Greiss’ exit from the game.

The three goals – and the 3-1 lead – are great. However, the Lightning have also been called for three penalties thus far and the Isles will begin the second period on the power play with a little under thirty seconds left. The Lightning have to clean up these penalties in a real quick hurry.

Despite the penalty kill looking strong the last few games, they’ve had too many players head to the box, creating way too many opportunities for the opposition to score goals on the man advantage. You give a team enough opportunities, something is bound to squeak through eventually.

The second period is about to begin and the Lightning are moving very quickly and very efficiently. There seems to be no hangover from the week off after eliminating the Bruins and they are giving the Islanders fits with such a different – and much faster – style of play comared to that of the Philadelphia Flyers.