NHL Playoffs: The Isles stay alive with a home comeback against the Lightning to force Game 7
Uniondale, New York - The New York Islanders get to play at least one more game this season, as they held off elimination against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals.
The Islanders survived on Wednesday to win 3-2 in overtime, forcing the deciding Game 7 on Friday night.
After suffering a crushing 8-0 rout in the previous matchup, the Isles seemed practically done in this series. But with their backs against the wall, they responded and earned a tough but well-deserved win. They needed just a little extra time – 68 seconds to be exact – to send the crowd wild and keep their hopes alive.
Anthony Beauvillier (24) provided the heroics for New York with the sudden-death game-winner, after they forced overtime from being down 2-0 late in the second period. It seemed from the start of the game though that Tampa was carrying all the momentum from their monster win just two days ago. At times, they were too fast for the Isles and they constantly broke up several offensive attempts, including 19 blocked shots in the game.
Brayden Point got things going for Tampa with his ninth-straight playoff goal, and Anthony Cirelli knocked home another score in the second, to put the Lightning up further. Jordan Eberle finally got one for New York past Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, just minutes after Cirelli’s score, and Scott Mayfield knotted things up at 2-2 midway through the third period.
In the end, the Lightning just couldn’t put away the Islanders, going from a potential shutout to allowing three straight goals for the loss.
Tampa’s now one game away from being dethroned
Even though the Lightning had one of the most spectacular wins in Stanley Cup history in Game 5, this loss might make that performance all for nothing. New York has proved that nothing has been decided just yet, and they still have a chance to avenge last year’s exit at the hands of the Lightning by beating them on their home ice.
A spot in the Stanley Cup finals will be decided in Game 7, from Tampa Bay on Friday night.
Cover photo: IMAGO / Icon SMI