In Tampa, Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning emerged victorious with a 5-3 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday. Leading the charge for the Lightning were Brayden Point, who found the net twice, and Nikita Kucherov, adding a goal and assisting another. Complementing the offensive lineup, Nick Perbix and Jake Guentzel also marked their presence on the scoreboard, while Jonas Johansson delivered a standout performance with 35 saves.
Scoring for the Islanders were Marc Gatcomb, Anthony DeAngelo, and Ryan Pulock. Despite their efforts, the Islanders suffered their fourth consecutive loss, with Ilya Sorokin managing 19 saves between the pipes. The win propelled the Lightning to their third consecutive victory, drawing them level with the Florida Panthers at the summit of the Atlantic Division. The Toronto Maple Leafs followed closely, just a point behind, as they prepared to take on the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
As they position themselves in the competitive Eastern Conference wild-card race, the Islanders hold a 32-20-10 record, securing 74 points, placing them fifth. They trail behind Ottawa with 81 points, tied with Columbus, Montreal, and the New York Rangers at 75 points each. Meanwhile, the Lightning are gearing up for their rematch against the Islanders on Monday, marking the commencement of a challenging four-game road trip that includes visits to Ottawa, Buffalo, and the Rangers over the span of the upcoming week.
Early in the game, Kucherov and Perbix’s efforts in the opening seven and a half minutes handed the Lightning a significant lead. Point extended this lead in the first and second periods, delivering a four-goal cushion. However, the Islanders rallied back, scoring three consecutive goals within the first nine minutes of the third period, narrowing the score to 4-3. Ultimately, Guentzel’s empty-net goal secured the outcome.
Kucherov set the tone by scoring just over two minutes into the first period, capitalizing on the Islanders’ initial shot attempt, propelling the Lightning forward early on. As for upcoming fixtures, the Lightning are slated to visit the Islanders again on Tuesday, whereas the Islanders will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, aiming to break their losing streak.