NHL Playoffs: Panthers vs. Islanders Game 4 recap, full highlights

Highlights from the Florida Panthers’ 2-1 win over the New York Islanders in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round playoff series.

The Florida Panthers will head back home tied at two games apiece with the New York Islanders after a terrific defensive effort earned them a 2-1 win in Game 4 of their first round playoff series on Wednesday evening.

In contrast to the wide-open play of first four games of the series, both teams looked sluggish in the scoreless first period, which was surprising given they had two days off for the first time in the playoffs. New York was stifled by Florida’s superior size and simply could not get near the net, generating just one even strength shot on goal in the period.

Florida, after starting out fast in every previous game, wasn’t much better with 10 shots on goal by the intermission. Thomas Greiss did have to make a couple of nice saves near the end of the period, including one on the red-hot Reilly Smith.

The Islanders did better in the second with a few good chances, particularly when John Tavares and Nick Leddy were on the ice. Still, Florida dominated much of the action, and nearly scored on a disallowed Jonathan Huberdeau goal at the 10:45 mark that required a long review.

Unlike in Game 3, the Islanders didn’t get a burst of momentum from an overturned goal. Teddy Purcell opened the scoring at the 15:18 mark on the Power Play on a nice pass from Jaromir Jagr, his first point of the series.

Florida then let the Islanders right back in the game by taking two poor penalties right near the end of the period, resulting in a 40-second five-on-three. Predictably, Tavares took advantage with his third goal of the series, knotting things up at three at the second intermission.

The Panthers continued to control the action in the third period, as New York looked lifeless and could not retain any possession in the attacking zone. Alex Petrovic whistled a wrist shot past Greiss at the 9:25 mark to give Florida another one goal lead.

A late Power Play gave the Islanders a flicker of hope, but they were turned away by great penalty killing and a couple of nice Roberto Luongo saves.  While Jagr had his best game of the series, the win was all due to Florida’s excellent even strength defense, which hasn’t always been present this postseason.

Three stars

3. Roberto Luongo, G, Florida. Faced the least amount of pressure of any game this series, but still racked up 26 saves on 27 shots by the end. including some critical ones late. 

2. Alex Petrovic, D, Florida. First career playoff goal on a nice hesitation move midway through the third gave the Panthers a much-needed win. 

1. Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida. In addition to highlighting strong team defensive effort in front of Luongo, generated a number of scoring opportunities and tallied an assist on Florida’s first goal of the game.

Full highlights

Next game

Florida will try to take a 3-2 series lead on home ice on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

For more coverage of the NHL Playoffs, make sure to check out our NHL hub page.