The Islanders are heading back to Nassau Coliseum after snatching home ice advantage from the Lightning in game one, but as game two showed, a lot needs to be cleaned up if New York wants to avenge last year's loss in the conference finals.
The Islanders should start their adjustments with the penalties, after committing five of them in Tuesday's game two loss. New York only allowed one goal on Tampa's five power play chances, but it gave the Lightning a 4-1 lead, putting the game away midway through the third period.
"Tonight we kept them at 20 percent, which is half the rate they usually get at," head coach Barry Trotz said. "But we just can't take that many."
The Lightning showed their special teams firepower in the regular season, scoring 40 power play goals, good for fourth in the NHL. So far in the postseason, they have 17, the most of any team (the next highest was the Avalanche with 12), and are scoring on 39.5 percent of their power play chances. New York was able to limit that threat in game one, as Tampa went on the man advantage just twice (and scored their lone goal on that power play), and will have to get back to that level of discipline as the series shifts to Long Island.
"We talk about staying out of the box," Brock Nelson said. "Five is probably too many. They have a lot of skill over there, and weapons. You give them five looks on the power play, they're gonna get some good looks."
While the Islanders limited the power play damage, time spent shorthanded meant time spent out of the attacking zone, something New York couldn't afford to relinquish after falling behind in the second period. Instead of trying to take back momentum after Tampa grabbed a 2-1 lead, the Islanders spent much of their night trying to get back to even strength.
"You give them five, you're gonna have to rely on your goaltender making a lot of saves and some big blocks," Nelson said.
The Lightning were already expected to come out firing in game two, looking to salvage a game on their home ice before hitting the road. Five penalties made what was already going to be a challenge even more difficult, and New York will look to clean that up back home.
"From my standpoint, we can be a lot better, and we will be," Trotz said. "We knew they were gonna have their A game."
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