3 Keys: Lightning at Islanders, Game 6 of Semifinals

2 years ago  /  NHL.com  /  Read Time: 3 minutes 32 seconds

• The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight season when they play the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday.
• The Lightning, who won the Cup last season, have scored the past 10 goals in the best-of-7 series following their 8-0 win in Game 5 on Monday.
• "It was a big win for us obviously, but 8-0, 2-1, 3-1, it's still one game," Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman said.
• The Islanders could potentially be playing their final game at Nassau Coliseum, their home in Uniondale, New York, from 1972-2015 and again for much of the past three seasons.
• They are moving to UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, next season.
• The Lightning are 7-2 all-time winning a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoffs series when they hold a 3-2 lead and have ended the series in Game 6 five times1
• Mathew Barzal, the Islanders' most dangerous offensive player is available after the center was not suspended by the NHL Department of Player Safety for his cross-check on Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta at the end of the second period in Game 5.
• "Having 'Barzy' in the lineup tonight is huge," New York defenseman Nick Leddy said.
• The team that scores first has won each of the first five games in this series, but the Islanders could use the first goal for morale after the 8-0 loss in Game 5.
• Tampa Bay has scored the past 10 goals in the series since the third period of New York's 3-2 win in Game 4. .
• The Islanders have been outscored 17-8 in the first period (including 5-1 against the Lightning) and outshot 217-151 in the playoffs, and they have yet to lead entering the second.
• Tampa Bay led 3-0 after the first period Monday
• Cernak, a defenseman, will miss a second straight game
• … The Islanders are expected to use the same lineup from Game 5.

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