The New York Islanders got five goals in game 1 and notched a solitary tally in game 2. That summarizes the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Tampa Bay Lightning to a T, doesn’t it? A deluge of lamp-lighting in game 1 and struggles offensively by the Isles at the Amalie on Saturday in game 2…
Yet there’s an awkward familiarity that airs by way of the outcome, or at least that sentiment can be carried by Islanders fans (and maybe seen as an encouragement as well)… It comes from the previous round, the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, where the Florida Panthers gave up 5 to the Isles in game 1 and evened the series in game 2 with a final score of 3-1.
Game 1 was lost 5-4. That’s the biggest difference and a continued equating fact between the series’ too. The Panthers scored 7 goals total from game 1 and 2 while the Islanders got 6 in that span. The Lightning has done exactly the same — 7 goals-for when you combine the tallies, and allowed 6 from New York.
The regular-season series between the Bolts and Isles was also a tight affair when you combine the games. Yeah, there was a lop-sided win and loss for Tampa Bay in the two late season contests played on March 25 and April 4; the final two regular season games. Combining the 7-4 outcome (March 25) and the loss of 5-2 (April 4) gives you an even 9-9 score between the teams. The Isles do hold the advantage when you factor in the November 28 game (a 3-2 Isles win).
Perhaps this can be taken as evidence the game outcomes will tighten up in the results of what is now a 5-game series. If games 3 thru 6 or 7 are played like the games from the Isles series with the Panthers last month, expect to be on the edge of your seat while awaiting outcomes.
