
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.More Related News

Suddenly, someone had hit a rewind button and everyone had been transported back seven months. It was early spring instead of late fall, it was broiling hot outside the arena walls and not freezing cold. Everyone was back at TD Garden. There were 19,156 frenzied fans on their feet begging for blood, poised for the kill.












