Lightning Draw Even In Stanley Cup Semis With 4-2 Win Over Isles

TAMPA, FLA — Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper insisted Tuesday morning that if his team hoped to draw even in the Stanley Cup semifinals against the New York Islanders, they would have to play with much more of an edge than they showed in the series opener.

The Bolts wasted no time in delivering the intensity that had been so lacking just a few days before. After an intense and sometimes chippy opening period set the tone, Jan Rutta delivered what proved to be the game-winner just more than two minutes into the third period in a 4-2 Lightning victory Tuesday night at Amalie Arena to tie the series at one game apiece.

Game 3 is Thursday night at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.

Rutta's goal was the difference-maker in a game in which the Lightning showed that Sunday's lackluster showing in which Cooper said his team laid a bit of an egg had been long forgotten. As opposed to Sunday's series opener, the Bolts came out and refused to back down, showing a level of physical play that Cooper said Tuesday morning had kept the Lightning from making the Islanders desperate in the series opener.

The Lightning took an early lead on Brayden Point's first-period goal that was part of an early flurry of shots and never looked back. Point scored in his fifth consecutive game and the Bolts improved to 11-0 following a playoff loss dating back to the 2019 postseason. Nikita Kucherov tallied three assists in the victory.

After the Islanders drew event just more than 4 1/2 minutes later on a Brock Nelson power play goal, Andrei Vasilevskiy kept New York at bay for the rest of the night, including with a save in the waning seconds of the second period that allowed the Bolts to take the one-goal lead into the final 20 minutes after Ondrej Palat provided the Lightning with a lead with his goal at 13:15 of the second period. Vasilevskiy finished the victory with 24 saves.

But while Vasilevskiy proved to be a steady line of defense, the Bolts offense kept pouring more pressure on.

Rutta scored just more than two minutes into the third period to extend the Lightning lead to two goals before Victor Hedman capped the scoring parade with a power-play goal to cap the decisive victory in which the Bolts dictated the pace and the energy from the start.

The Islanders got a goal late in the third period on a Matthew Barzal tally, but the two Tampa Bay goals earlier in the period provided enough of a cushion to gave Vasilevskiy plenty of breathing room.

NBC Sports Group in the U.S. is providing exclusive national television coverage of the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals.

Here are the dates of the upcoming games:
Game 3: Thursday, June 17 at 8 p.m.
Game 4: Saturday, June 19 at 8 p.m.
*Game 5: Monday, June 21 at 8 p.m.
*Game 6: Wednesday, June 23 at 8 p.m.
*Game 7: Friday, June 25 at 8 p.m.

This is the second straight year the Lightning has battled the Islanders in the Stanley Cup Semifinals.

The Lightning defeated the Islanders in six games in the Eastern Conference Final last season before winning the Stanley Cup against the Dallas Stars.

A strong performance in net from Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov, as well as goals from Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock, sent the Lightning to a 2-1 loss in Game 1 of the Lightning's bid to hang on to the Stanley Cup, according to Lightning sports reporter Jacob Lynn.

The Bolts tried to rally late in the third, getting on the board in the final minute of regulation, but New York hung on down the stretch to take Sunday's series opener.

Lightning Releases More Game Tickets

To accommodate all the fans hoping to see the hometown team in action, the Tampa Bay Lightning has increased capacity at Amalie Arena to approximately 14,800 fans for the Stanley Cup Semifinals and have released additional tickets.
Click here for tickets.

Official Lightning Watch Parties

For those who aren't lucky enought to score a ticket to Tuesday's game, Pepsi Zero Sugar will host a socially distanced Lightning Plaza Party outside of Amalie Arena on Ford Thunder Alley, featuring live music and giveaways. Tickets are $5 with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Lightning Foundation Charities. Pods of one to eight people are available.

Important Details:

• Tickets must be purchased to access Lightning Plaza Parties
• Fans with tickets to the Lightning Plaza Parties are permitted to bring standard tailgate-sized chairs (20 by 20 inches)
• The plaza will open for ticketed guests three hours before the puck drop
• Anyone without a ticket to either the Amalie Arena or the Lightning Plaza Party will be asked to leave the secure perimeter of the plaza
• Fans with tickets to the Thunder Alley viewing party and the arena will be able to access the plaza via the west sidewalk in between the JW Marriott and the Pam Iorio Garage, the west sidewalk at the intersection of Morgan Street/Channelside Drive or the entryway to the plaza at the northwest corner of Amalie Arena
• Outside food and beverages, coolers, bags, and tents are not permitted.

For away games during the Stanley Cup Semifinals, fans are invited to Amalie Arena for socially distanced, official Tampa Bay Lightning Watch Parties presented by Bud Light, featuring live entertainment, appearances by Lightning mascot ThunderBug and other Lightning personalities, giveaways and concession specials.

Tickets are $10 with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Lightning Foundation Charities. Pods of one to six people are available. Doors will open 75 minutes before the scheduled puck drop.

See related story: Lightning Strikes Twice As Bolts Head To Stanley Cup Semifinals

Patch Editor D'Ann Lawrence White contributed to this story