Islanders hold off Lightning in massive Game 1 win
NY Post
TAMPA — Coach Barry Trotz said his Islanders’ series-opening blowout loss to the Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals last season wasn’t a fair fight, after his team was thrown onto the ice the day after traveling between the NHL’s bubbles.
A rested Islanders squad had no such troubles Sunday in Game 1 of this season’s Stanley Cup semifinals, as they took a convincing 2-1 win and a 1-0 series lead over the Lightning in front of a disheartened home crowd at Amalie Arena. “I thought today was more reminiscent of Games 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 from last year,” Trotz said after the win, referring to how the Islanders were only outscored by two goals after the 8-2 drubbing the Lightning handed them in Game 1 last season.
Matt Rempe continues to gradually fight his way back to the Rangers’ lineup.
Edwin Diaz explained his decision to leave the Mets for the Dodgers. The closer headed west for a three-year, $69 million contract with the two-time defending World Series Champions over the same terms and $3 million fewer with the Mets — who reportedly “had some wiggle room” on their initial offer.But it wasn’t just about the money, the 31-year-old said in his first Los Angeles press conference on Friday.
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