NYIslanders 2 Florida 1 20T Islanders win series 4 games to 2.
Tavares! And more Tavares! New York Islanders captain John Tavares not only collected two goals on the night, but was probably the most dangerous offensive weapon of the game.
With the clock ticking away in regulation time in the third period, an unattended Tavares found the loose puck after a scramble to the side of Florida netmhder Roberto Luongo, who was prone on the ice, and put it past Luongo into the open net. The Islanders just tied it all up and sent the game into overtime.
It was a very exciting and fast-paced first overtime, as the Isles very well dominated in the offensive zone, taking every chance and shot they could, but fell short of the mark to connect. The Panthers had their hands full, so to speak, with the opposition pressing on.
On to double overtime, where it was Florida that dominated the play. Islanders goaltender Thomas Greiss, much like his opposing counterpart, Luongo, had to be as sharp for every shot on goal & chances created by the Panthers. If not for some clever-stiokhandling by some of the Isles defencemen such as Harmonic and Leddy, Greiss' work would have been complicated.
With Kyle Okposo skating up to the side, giving a short pass to Tavares skating near the centre of the zone, and Florida detenceman Aaron Ekblad in front of the his own goal area, Tavares took a wrist shot in close, the puck rebounding to the side of Luongo and the net, and speedy Tavares picked up the loose puck past Ekblad and twirled all the way around the other open side of the net with Luongo flat on the ice, and put it in. Islanders win! What a way to go, Johnny T! Surely the screaming faithful at the Barclays Center would agree.
Wow. Way to go, Islanders! Relief, too, as Islander fans have been waiting a long time to savour this moment.
Congrats to both teams on a series well played.
Source: TSN
