The Islanders enjoyed their most comfortable win of the playoffs so far, except playoff wins are never comfortable.
Though they gave up an early goal for the fifth time in their playoffs, the New York put themselves in unfamiliar territory by carrying a big lead through much of their first meeting with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The result was a 5-3 win, with little sign of fatigue from the Isles after they finished their last series with two double-overtime games.
Thomas Greiss continued his excellent playoff with 33 saves, John Tavares continued his pace with a goal and an assist, and the line of Shane Prince (two goals for the Artist Formerly Known As), Brock Nelson and prodigal Ryan Strome (two assists each) combined for two goals to give the Isles a 3-1 lead by the end of the first period.