It all comes down to this. After the New York Islanders forced a Game 7 by defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in a dramatic come from behind win in overtime, the Islanders will need to dig down deep and finish off the defending Stanley Cup champs to earn a shot at winning the trophy themselves.
Wednesday’s game had already been filled with emotion as the Islanders faced the threat of the Nassau Coliseum doors being closed for good with a loss in Game 6. Now they’re about to play the franchise’s biggest game since 1984.
“You get to a Game 7, you know what’s at stake,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said on Thursday. “You play all year to get to this point. You know you get one opportunity, and it will be there. So just stay in the moment. Enjoy it. Embrace it. And don’t get small.”
New York Islanders Lines (Projected)
Kyle Palmieri — Mathew Barzal — Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier — Brock Nelson — Josh Bailey
Leo Komarov — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Travis Zajac
Matt Martin — Casey Cizikas — Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech — Ryan Pulock
Nick Leddy — Scott Mayfield
Andy Greene — Noah Dobson
Semyon Varlamov
Ilya Sorokin
Game Notes
The Islanders are 4-5 all-time in Game 7s, including 4-4 on the road. Head Coach Barry Trotz is 3-2 in Game 7s. … The Islanders can become the first team to dethrone a defending Stanley Cup Champion in Game 7 of a Semifinal Round series since 2014. … The Islanders rank second in the league in goals scored this postseason (54) and are tied for third in GF/GP (3.00). They have scored 40 5-on- 5 goals, good for second-most in the league. They have outscored their opponents 40-37 in 5-on-5 play. … Tampa Bay is 5-0 this postseason in games following a loss, 12-0 over the past two playoffs and 13-0 when including its victory to open the 2020 Playoffs coming off a Game 4 loss in the 2019 First Round at Columbus. … Tampa Bay scored the opening goal in Game 6 for the 13th time in 17 postseason contests during its 2021 Playoffs run. They are now 11-2 when scoring the first goal. … Tampa Bay center Brayden Point scored the opening goal of Game 6 at NYI to extend his franchise-record goal streak to nine games, one game from matching the NHL playoff record of 10-straight games with a goal set by Philadelphia’s Reggie Leach in 1976.
How to Watch
Tonight’s game will air on NBCSN. On the radio dial, Chris King and Greg Picker will call the game on the Islanders Radio Network. 98.7 FM ESPN New York, 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 FM LI News Radio will carry tonight’s Game 7 radio broadcast.
