Be sure to 'like' Hockeybuzz on Facebook!

The second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs is set. Well, in the Eastern Conference, anyways.

While the Metropolitan Division bracket crown will come down to the winner of the second-round tilt between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Presidents’ Trophy winning Washington Capitals, the Tampa Bay Lightning have found their opponent for the second round.

And following their thrilling Game 6 double-overtime win over the Florida Panthers in Brooklyn on Sunday night, it’s the New York Islanders.

The Lightning won just one of three head-to-heads with the Islanders this year, with that win coming in Tampa Bay’s barn, while the Bolts lost one at home and one in Brooklyn. In their one win, the Lightning scored seven goals on the New York net, their most in any game this season.

It is still unknown when Game 1 will be played.

This will be just the second playoff series between the Lightning and Islanders. Their last and only prior meeting was a first-round series in 2004 that marked the start of Tampa Bay's run to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, a five-game series win.

Ty Anderson has been covering the National Hockey League for HockeyBuzz.com since 2010, has been a member of the Pro Hockey Writers Association's Boston Chapter since 2013, and can be contacted on Twitter, or emailed at Ty.AndersonHB[at]gmail.com.

Join the Discussion: » 38 Comments » Post New Comment

» Bolts' Ben Bishop out weeks with lower-body injury

» Lightning can't overcome opportunistic Canucks

» Bolts back home against Ovechkin's Capitals

» Lightning drop season-high fourth straight game

» Bad Luck Ben: Bishop's strugglesome year continues in loss