NHL Playoffs: Islanders vs. Lightning Game 2 recap, full highlights

The Tampa Bay Lightning evened their series with the New York Islanders with a 4-1 win in Game 2 on Saturday.

After a disappointing effort in Game 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning bounced back with a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Saturday at Amalie Arena.

The already crowded injury list for the Lightning grew even more prior to Game 2, as defensemen Matt Carle and winger Erik Condra were both ruled out. It didn’t matter in the first six minutes, as Tampa Bay easily killed off a New York Power Play before Tyler Johnson scored his third goal of the playoffs on an odd man rush where two Islanders collided.

Four minutes later, Jonathan Drouin doubled the Tampa Bay lead following another penalty kill on his first career playoff goal. Things looked like they were about to get ugly for the Islanders at that point, but Nikolay Kulemin’s tip-in at the 15:15 mark on New York’s third Power Play of the period cut the deficit to 2-1 at intermission.

Both teams continued to pile up penalties in the second period, and Victor Hedman’s Power Play goal at the 11:51 mark gave Tampa Bay a 3-1 advantage on a deflection off of Calivn de Haan. While the Islanders controlled the action in the attacking zone for much of the period, Ben Bishop’s 17 saves through two ensured Tampa Bay kept the lead.

Tampa Bay started to play better near the end of the period and start of the third, as it saw much more of the puck than earlier in the game and did not allow an Islanders shot on goal for a span of nine and a half minutes. Thomas Greiss kept the deficit with a few nice saves, but New York could not sustain any pressure in the period. Johnson’s empty net goal in the dying minutes sealed Tampa Bay’s 4-1 win to even the series at one.

Just like in their first round series victory against the Detroit Red Wings, the Lightning’s penalty kill made a huge difference. Bishop also bounced back nicely from a rough Game 1, and Tampa Bay did a good job shutting down playoff points leader John Tavares.

Three stars

Tyler Johnson, C, Tampa Bay. Continued playoff scoring binge with two goals and an assist while also winning some key faceoffs.

Ben Bishop, G, Tampa Bay. Got back to form with 19 saves, including holding off constant pressure from New York in the second period 

Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay. Best player on the ice Saturday and scored his first goal of the postseason on crafty deflection off Islanders defender.

Full highlights

"Here’s what that Hedman goal looked like that gave the @TBLightning a 2-goal lead. #StanleyCup https://t.co/5IAKLIwEPH— NBCSN (@NBCSN) April 30, 2016"

Next game

The series will shift to the Barclays Center for Game 3 on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

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