Isles hope to bounce back after an embarrassing first game
Holy sh$t, I️ was wrong. I️ predicted the Isles would steal Game One by a final score of 3-2. What actually happened was the Tampa Bay Lightning annihilated the New York Islanders 8-2 for a victory in Game One. The eight goals scored by the Bolts tied a franchise record for the most in a single playoff game. Tampa scored first, but New York was able to respond with a goal of their own. After that though, the wheels fell off the tricycle. I would say bicycle, but the Isles looked like children going up against grown men the other night. The Lightning would score two more unanswered goals to finish the first period up 3-1. Tampa would score twice more in the second period and three more times in the third for a total of eight goals on the evening. A touchdown plus a two-point conversion. It was one of the worst beatings in the history of the Islanders.
The Lightning are stacked. They have guys like Kucherov, Stamkos, Sergachev, and Hedman, the list goes on and on. However, their best player since the postseason has been Brayden Point. In 14 playoff games, the 24-year-old Center has eight goals and 15 assists for a total of 23 points this postseason! What has been even more impressive has been how clutch he has been. He has two game-winning-goals this postseason, both coming against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Brayden Point should be the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Lightning end up winning the Stanley Cup as I️ predicted they would.
I need to address the elephant in the room. I️ am a person who likes to sing my own praises. Nobody is going to tell you I️ was right more than me. However, I️ am also the first to admit when I️ am wrong about something. Man oh man, I️ have been wrong about Hockey a lot recently. In fact, I️ have not gotten a Hockey prediction correct since Game Four of the Flyers-Islanders series (insert upside down smile emoji here). That is not great guys. I️ am almost afraid to make a pick because I️ know it’s going to be wrong. I️’m not sure if I️ should go with my gut, or pull a George Costanza and go against every good instinct I️ have. Tonight’s game will certainly be a better contest, but I️ fear the end result will still be the same for the Isles.
New York’s not a bad team. With that being said, everything that could have gone wrong in Game One did. The Isles were clearly worn out from the seven-game series against the Flyers, a series the Isles had three chances to win. Meanwhile, the Lightning came in well-rested and used that speed and readiness to their advantage. It should also be known that the Isles had to travel to Edmonton from Toronto just one day after beating the Flyers in Game Seven to get ready to take on the Lightning. As Tampa Head Coach Jon Cooper said, “now, we’re on even terms,” meaning both teams will have the same amount of travel time and prep time for Game Two.
I️ don’t know who is going to start in goal for the Isles in Game Two. To be fair, I️ don’t know if it’ll matter that much, that’s how good Tampa is on offense. Thomas Greiss was named the starter for Game One. He ended up allowing three goals on nine shots. Varlamov came in to relieve Greiss and played much better despite surrendering five goals. A starter has not yet been named for tonight’s game, but I️ fear the Lightning have too much offense for either goalie to handle. Don’t get me wrong, I️’m sure the starter for Game Two won’t surrender eight goals. At the same time, I️ don’t think the Isles have enough offense to go toe-to-toe with Tampa.
The Lightning are playing like the best team in the NHL. One of my friends said the West is the better conference, but I️ don’t believe that for a second. The East has Philly, New York (both of them), Washington, Columbus, Montreal, etc, and that’s only the Metropolitan division! Don’t get me started on how stacked the Atlantic Division is. Either way, Tampa has proven they are the cream of the crop in the East. They simply have more talent than the Isles. Talent doesn’t guarantee wins, but it certainly plays a big role needless to say. The Lightning will prove how good they are again tonight. Tampa wins a closer game, but they still win comfortably.
