from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,
For the NHL’s ultimate underdogs, this was a moment worth savouring.
In their first look at the Tampa Bay Lighting since last year’s Eastern Conference Final, the New York Islanders landed a solid counter-punch by bottling up the defending champs with a 2-1 victory to open this third-round rematch.
Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock scored the only goals Semyon Varlamov needed to secure the Islanders a win nine months in the making. That’s how long they’ve had to stew on a six-game defeat at the hands of Tampa inside the Edmonton bubble last fall.
“Both teams were familiar [with each other] and both teams went at it,” said Islanders coach Barry Trotz.
“They’re the standard of the league, I would say,” added Barzal.
And yet New York was full value for its win at Amalie Arena, keeping the Lightning’s most dangerous shooters at a safe distance. Brayden Point broke Varlamov’s shutout bid in the final minute, but he, Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos were held to just four total shots in the game.
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