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The Islanders head to Tampa to face the Lightning in a match of the league's top two offenses. Tampa leads the league with 4.00 goals per game and New York is right behind them with 3.61 goals per game.
New York has lost seven straight games against the Lightning dating back to Game 2 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Bolts outscored the Isles 14-2 in their three-game sweep last season. Nitika Kucherov, the league's top goal scorer, had four goals against the Isles. Following the third lost to the Lightning last season, Kucherov was quoted as saying "I wish we could play them more."
That 4-0 lost to the Bolts last November should've signaled the end of Jack Capuano's tenure as Islanders head coach but general manager Garth Snow gave him another two months.
Tampa has been ridiculous this season, going 15-2-2 in their first 19 games, leading the league in wins (15), points (32) and goal differential (+30). Kucherov and Steven Stamkos have been the league's dynamic duo. Stamkos leads the league with 35 points, while Kucherov leads the league in goals (17). Kucherov is second in the NHL with 33 points (17G, 16A).
Andrei Vasilevskiy is 14-1-1 this season with a 2.24 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage. His 14 wins lead the league. Ben Bishop is all but a memory now.
Thomas Greiss will start his third straight game. If Greiss and Jaroslav Halak can be average to above average, the Isles will do damage this season. That could be a lot to ask for though.
Same defensemen as Thursday win against the Carolina Hurricanes. Head coach Doug Weight said there are some game-time among the forwards.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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