N.Y. Islanders: Eastern Conference Final Preview

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS   2020

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

vs.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

FROM

EDMONTON BUBBLE

The Islanders are in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1993, twenty-seven years ago, when they fall to the Montreal Canadiens four games to one. 

The last time the Islanders and Tampa met in the playoffs was in 2015-2016 during the second round, taken by the Bolts four games to one.  After which the Islanders fail to qualify for the playoffs for two straight seasons.  Enter Barry Trotz who last season is hired as head coach and the Islanders return to the playoffs.  They sweep the Pittsburgh Penguins in round one, but suffer the same fate in round two against the Carolina Hurricanes.  Long Island now arrives in Edmonton after defeating the Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has been banging on the door since 2014-2015 when they lose the Stanley Cup finals against the Chicago Blackhawks.  The following season they bow in the conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  They fail to qualify for the playoffs in 2016-2017, then fall against the Washington Capitals in the 2017-2018 conference finals.  Last season they are bounced out of the playoffs in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The Bolts arrive in Edmonton having defeated the Blue Jackets in round one and the Boston Bruins in round two. 

Tampa has been idle since last Monday after dispatching the Bruins in five and have played fewer games than the Islanders since entering the bubble.

The major question for Tampa is whether or not Steve Stamkos plays.  He is skating but has yet to return to action since sustaining a leg injury in July.  For the Islanders, Johnny Boychuck remains out after taking a hard hit to the head in game one against the Florida Panthers.

REGULAR SEASON MATCH-UP:

• Nov. 1 - NYI 5; TB 2
• Dec. 9 - NYI 5; TB 1
• Feb. 8 - TB 3; NYI 1

Semyon Varlamov or Thomas Greiss: that is the question.  Barry Trotz will decide which is noblest.  Coming off Saturday's whitewashing of the Flyers, I suspect Greiss makes the start in game one against Tampa.  Greiss faces just sixteen shots in Saturday's clincher against the Flyers, but nevertheless stops them all.  Varlamov is 9-4 with a .921 SV% and Greiss is 2-1 with a .960 SV% albeit with a smaller sample size.  Through thirteen games Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is 10-3 with a .931 SV% and 1.91 GAA.

In almost every respect, be it even strength or on the power play, these teams are near even.  Both feature depth of lines and scoring ability throughout.  Through thirteen games the Bolts are averaging 3.0 goals per game, while the Isles are averaging 3.3 goals per game.  On defense, the Bolts are allowing an average of 2.3 goals per game while the Islanders are allowing a stingy 1.9 goals per game.

So far, advantage Islanders.