The New York Islanders can do something tonight that they haven't done since the 1983 Stanley Cup Finals, take a 2-0 lead in a playoff series. They battled back from three deficits to defeat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. It's the first time in Isles playoff history that they have erased three one-goal leads and won the game.
The Isles had a golden opportunity last season, winning Game 1 vs the Washington Captials and up 3-1 in the second period against backup goalie Philipp Grubauer. The Caps scored three unanswered goals for a 4-3 win.
New York stole Game 1. Florida out shot them 46-26. The Panthers came out firing and took an early 1-0 lead. Thomas Greiss, starting in his first career playoff game, looked a little shaky to start but out played former Islander Roberto Luongo. Greiss made 42 saves, his biggest came on a full stretch save with less than a minute left in the game on Jaromir Jagr. Greiss is the seventh different goaltender to start Game 1 of a playoff series. I would expect Greiss to start Game 2.
Since Game of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, Luongo is 0-7 with a 3.74 goals against average and a .873 save percentage. Florida will go back to the 37-year-old on short rest tonight for Game 2.
The Islanders chance to advance to the second round for the first time since 1993 was in jeopardy when John Tavares took a shot off of his foot, skated to the bench and then the locker room. Islanders fans were having heart palpitations waiting for the captain's return. He returned quickly and tied the game at three with less than a minute in the second period.
Captain Clutch. @91Tavares #Isles pic.twitter.com/PHZIefEx1V
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 15, 2016
JT assisted on Kyle Okposo's goal to give the Isles their first lead of the night. Tavares had a goal and two assists. He has 12 points in his last five games. Frans Nielsen joining the top line has really helped Tavares. Nielsen and Okposo both had a goal and assist. Perhaps JT's winger has been here all along.
Alan Quine, a veteran of just two NHL games, made his playoff debut, playing with Ryan Strome and Shane Prince, channeled his inner Tavares and went zone-to-zone and created a great scoring chance. Luongo's rebound found Ryan Strome who buried it home for the a two-goal lead. Strome also had a two-point night. His heads up pass to Brock Nelson, whose wrist shot found the the back of the net opened the scoring for the Isles. Nelson scored the Isles' first playoff goal for the second straight year. Getting both Strome and Nelson to pick their stuff up will really help the team win this series.
The Isles have have been in this spot before. They have stole home-ice advantage in the last 6 playoff series. They need to play a little less sloppy and improve their possession if they want to take complete control of the series. Let's see if the Panthers fans show up tonight. It was far from a sellout last night.
The Islanders announced today that they have signed defenseman Devon Toews to a three-year entry level contract. Toews was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. The 22-year-old helped lead Quinnipiac to the National Championship game. The junior recorded 7 goals, 23 assists and 30 points, all career highs this season. Toews will report to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on an amateur tryout.
Toews' teammate Sam Anas signed a two-year ELC earlier in the day. The forward was in the Islanders prospect camp last summer.