The New York Islanders will not be eliminated if they lose tonight to the Tampa Bay Lightning. But boy, would a 3-1 deficit be a tall task.
On the other hand, a 2-2 tie would be beautiful. The series would be a best-of-three, and beating the Lightning twice in three games, while difficult, would be possible. They also would guarantee at least one more game back at the friendly confines of Nassau Coliseum.
The Isles, as has been said many times, have come back from down 2-1 to rattle off three straight wins in their two previous series against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston Bruins.