The Tampa Bay Lightning (38-11-2) defeated the New York Islanders (29-15-6) 1-0 in the shootout on Friday night on Long Island.
This game was dominated by the play of the goalies. Each team got ample opportunities throughout a game that was high energy and buzzing throughout. Andrei Vasilevskiy got 36 saves for the Lightning, including eleven saves in a third period that was sizzling and four saves in overtime, to get his fourth shutout of the year. Every step of the way, though, he was matched by Thomas Greiss, who came away with fourty-one saves in a masterful performance. He also was credited with a shutout as he did not allow a goal in regulation - the Islanders now have points in seven consecutive games - but this game would be decided in the shootout.
In the first round of the shootout the Islanders (as the home team) elected to shoot first. After Vasilevskiy made a save on Brock Nelson, it was Victor Hedman coming through with a goal to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead. The second round saw Vasy save a shot from Mathew Brazel before Nikita Kucherov's shot was saved by Greiss to head into the third round. When Andrei Vasilvesksiy came up with another stop - this time against Josh Bailey - that would be all she wrote and the Bolts would come away with the second point.
The Lightning have no time to stop and think about this one, as they play the Rangers in the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday night. Puck drop on Saturday night is scheduled for 8 PM for the Big Apple - you can hear it all, beginning with pregame coverage at 7:30, on News Radio WFLA .