The Lightning will take another swing at eliminating the Islanders from the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs when the two teams meet for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday night in Edmonton.
It took double overtime, but New York staved off elimination in Game 5 with a 2-1 victory. Jordan Eberle scored the winning goal and Semyon Varlamov made 36 saves in the New York win, while the Lightning held the Islanders to just 24 shots on goal in a losing effort.
Much of the pregame drama centers on the health of Tampa forward Braydon Point, who remains a “gametime decision” for the Lightning. Point, who is tied for the league lead with 25 points this postseason, missed Game 5 after being deemed unfit to play.
There is no such injury drama swirling around the Islanders ahead of Game 6, but finding a way to average more than six shots on goal per period — as they did in Game 5 — would be one way that the Islanders can ensure this series heads to a seventh game.
Thursday, Sept. 17
NY Islanders at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS)