![]() With five players tallying double-digit points so far in Kucherov (18), Stamkos (13), Alex Killorn (12), Brayden Point (12) and Hedman (11), they need to keep those players on the ice and avoid injuries to any of them. The Lightning do have the benefit of depth, especially with a healthy Stamkos this time. New York will likely try to be physical from the get-go, so it is extremely important not to take the bait and risk injury. But this team must stay focused and avoid taking penalties that could give the opposition some extra confidence. Tampa Bay is the most talented offensive team remaining and will need to score a lot of goals in this series, just like last year. The Lightning should not be taking the Islanders lightly and realize they could be in for a war if they let their guard down. New York was also coming off a grueling seven-game series last time around while Tampa Bay was well-rested. Varlamov is the man now and played much better from Game 2 on, and he will be counted on after taking over between the pipes for rookie Ilya Sorokin following Game 1 in their second-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. Sure, they ended up winning two games to make the series somewhat competitive, but losing the series opener in such dramatic fashion made it very hard to overcome.īoth goaltenders Semyon Varlamov (20 saves on 25 shots) and Thomas Greiss (six on nine) struggled in Game 1, with the latter earning the start before getting pulled. The Islanders are hoping to learn from last year’s experience in the Eastern Conference Fianls, as they got off to a rough start in losing the first two games and never really recovered. The line is up to -191 in favor of the Lightning, and they made a big statement in Game 1 of the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals with a resounding 8-2 victory as -160 favorites. New York is a hard-working, physical team that grinds on opponents and wears them down over the course of a series, and Tampa Bay’s flashy finesse style of play will be put to the test early on. Not to take anything from last year’s Cup team, but this one appears even stronger too despite finishing third in the Central Division this season. The public knows the names of Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Andrei Vasilveskiy because they have been in this spot before and risen to the occasion. Tampa Bay is the side bettors are backing here in the series opener for obvious reasons as the defending Stanley Cup champion and more well-known club due to strong star power. Sportsbook Odds: Lightning -175 | O/U 5.5 ( Line History).New York Islanders vs Tampa Bay Lightning Video Poker Guide: Play the Best Online Video Poker Games.
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