Nikita Kucherov’s goal with 8.8 seconds left in the third period sealed the Tampa Bay Lightning’s win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final, but the New York Islanders arguably lost the game well before that strike.
A solid rebound effort after a demoralizing 8-2 Game 1 loss, the Islanders played a style they’re more accustomed to utilizing. However, a bevy of missed chances hurt them well before the back-breaking goal.
“Everybody will tell you, you have to be in the moment and you can’t worry about the results,” Barry Trotz said. “And yes, the results are what you’re judged on. But you have to focus on the process in what you’re doing in that moment.”
The process, arguably, was there for New York in Game 2. The New York Islanders dominated the first period with a 13-4 edge in shots and held Tampa Bay to 21 overall for the game. In all situations, the Islanders held a 54.63 percent Corsi advantage, according to Natural Stat Trick.
The penalty kill unit cleared all three Tampa Bay power plays. It was the other side of the coin, however, where the Islanders largely struggled again.
Other than Matt Martin’s early tally, the Islanders couldn’t finish. The power play stood out with an 0-for-4 night with two big misses that could’ve changed the complexion of the game.
Already without Steven Stamkos for the series, Tampa Bay lost Alexander Killorn early in the first period when he received a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding.
On the ensuing power play, the Islanders did generate some good looks, but not enough to really test netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Brayden Point, ranked second in playoff points, didn’t take a shift after skating off the ice gingerly in the second period. So Tampa Bay, although still with plenty of firepower, essentially played with three lines for more than half the game.
The Islanders did get another golden chance in the third, a 38-second 5-on-3. But, the Islanders passed the puck around the offensive zone and cycled until they had a perfect shot. That chance never came and New York didn’t record a single shot on the two-man advantage.
With 1:47 left in the third, there was also the odd-man rush where Devon Toews did not shoot on a 2-on-1 but passed back to a trailing Mathew Barzal. It didn’t work and the Islanders watched the game-winning goal sail into their net about a minute later.
“But I think we have a lot to take from that last game,” Anders Lee said Wednesday. “You’re not going to dwell on the loss, you can look back and pick from it and build off it. I think we did a lot of good things, we just came up short on our ultimate goal.”
For the entire playoffs, the Islanders have converted on 16.2 percent of man-advantage opportunities, the worst among any of the remaining four playoff teams. In the Eastern Conference Final, New York is 1-for-9 on the power play, a number that’ll likely need to improve if they want to make this a longer series.
“We have to find a way to capitalize on one of those two situations,” Lee said of the major and 5-on-3. “I think we’ve had decent looks. The 5-on-3 wasn’t our best. That major we had some pretty good opportunities and we just weren’t able to convert.”
Part of what could help the Islanders is to make use of the net-front presence and be less passive when grade-A chances are available. Cal Clutterbuck said it’s going to become a point of emphasis for the New York Islanders to test Vasilevskiy more often.
“I think we can shoot it a little more,” Clutterbuck said. “Rebounds are a lot harder to break up than direct passes. Direct passes can be anticipated. At this point in the season, where we’re at, teams are going to be pretty stingy in front of their net, regardless of who they are. I think we can probably do a better job of throwing pucks on and dealing with rebounds.”
But still, a bounce here or there very much could’ve changed the outcome in a tight game. After what was a complete 180-degree turn in play and effort in Game 2, Trotz said this series could easily turn in the Islanders’ favor.
“This series is really close to flipping here,” Trotz said. “And our game is back to where it should be.”
