Josh Bailey was well aware of his struggles in Games 1 and 2 along with linemates Brock Nelson and Nikolay Kulemin. Jack Capuano had Steve Bernier waiting in the wings but stayed with three of his longer-serving veterans.
It was a better game on Sunday for that line than the previous two and then there was the payoff in overtime. Bailey and Nelson outworked two Panthers below the goal line, Nelson fed Thomas Hickey cutting down the slot and the Islanders had their Game 3 win thanks in part to the line that had been the most deficient in the two games in Florida.