Lightning even series against Islanders with Game 2 win

TAMPA, Fla. — We have a final! The Lightning defeat the Islanders 4-2 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals. They play again at 8 p.m. Thursday.

10:38 p.m.

The Islanders get one back in the third after a goal from Mathew Barzal. It's 4-2.

10:25 p.m.

Victor Hedman adds another for the Lightning and Tampa Bay now leads 4-1 in the third period.

10:09 p.m.

Jan Rutta makes it a two-goal lead in the third period for the Lightning. It's now 3-1.

9:45 p.m.

The second period has ended with the Lightning on top by a score of 2-1.

9:35 p.m.

Ondrej Palat puts the Lightning back on top with a goal in the second period. Bolts lead 2-1.

8:52 p.m.

The Lightning and Islanders remained tied at 1 after one period of play.

8:44 p.m.

The Lightning get their second power play of the game late in the first period with things all tied up at 1 goal apiece.

8:36 p.m.

The New York Islanders get on the board with a power-play goal. It's tied 1-1 in the first period.

8:26 p.m.

The Lightning strike first in Game 2 with a goal from Brayden Point. It's 1-0 in the first period.

8:18 p.m.

The Lightning draw a penalty and head onto their first power play of the game.

8:10 p.m.

The puck has dropped at Amalie and Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals between the Lightning and Islanders is underway.

Original story:

The Lightning have been here before. 

Which is why, following a Game 1 loss to the Islanders Sunday afternoon, the overwhelming message from the team is "don't panic."

"We knew it was going to be extremely tough," Steven Stamkos said. "We've been in this position before. There's definitely no panic in this room, but we do realize it's going to be an extremely tight series and we just have to expect that going forward."

Since Jon Cooper took over the team in 2012-13, the team has lost the first game in a playoff series 11 of 19 times.

"It’s easy to panic and kind of feel like we really, really need to win the next game,” defenseman Victor Hedman said. “We want to win the next game, obviously, but you just have to go out there and play your game. You can’t be scared going out. You have to embrace that challenge."

But, in the last two postseasons, the Bolts are 10-0 following a loss.

"We have a pretty proud team," Cooper said.

The team spent the off-day Monday watching extra film on the Isles. 

After watching video, Cooper said the team didn't manage the puck well.

"When you do that, you don't even get a chance to play offense," Cooper said. "That was a major point of contention for us in the game and we addressed it today. The players know to be better in that regard."

Hedman said he saw opportunities on film for the Bolts to score in all three zones while at even strength.

And that's key for Tampa Bay moving forward: improving 5-on-5 play.

Seventeen of the Bolts' 39 goals this postseason have come on the power play. The Islanders have a suffocating style of play that forces opponents into mistakes. They also don't get whistled for a lot of penalties, so the Lightning can't rely on the power play as much. 

"We didn't score enough last night," Cooper said. "But we only gave up two, and usually if you give up two or less, you can find a way to win the game. And if we continue doing that in the playoffs, we'll be alright."

Puck drop for Game 2 is 8 p.m. Tuesday at Amalie Arena.

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