Jul 31 2006
Game Five:
Lightning 3- Islanders 2Lightning Win Series 4-1
The NHL scoring champion commanded the spotlight again. Martin St. Louis whipped a shot over the outstretched glove of Islanders' goalie Rick Dipietro at 4:07 of overtime, sending Tampa Bay to the second round. But the true scoring machine for the Lightning was left winger Frederik Modin, who assisted on all three goals in this game and led the team with eight points in the series.
The Islanders played well for much of the series. But they had no answer when Tampa Bay turned up the speed and the offense. In game five, the Lightning dominated the second period and took a 2-1 lead when Tim Taylor and Ruslan Fedotenko scored two minutes apart. Mark Parrish forced overtime with a third period goal for the Islanders.
Nikolai Khabibulin, who made 24 saves for Tampa, leads all starting goalies in the playoffs in save percentage and goals-against average.
Lightning forward Cory Stillman and defenseman Jassen Cullimore both missed the game with injuries.
Game Four:Lightning 3 – Islanders 0
(Lightning lead series 3-1)
Don’t miss a chance to see a Martin St. Louis goal. The master of the highlight reel added another classic in the first period of this game, stealing the puck to score the opening goal; making Islanders’ defenseman Kenny Jonsson and goalie Rick Dipietro look foolish in the process. That turned out to be all the Lightning would need. Nikolai Khabilbulin has three wins and three shutouts in four games.
St. Louis’ goal was short-handed. It sucked all the momentum from the Islanders, who had dominated the early minutes of the game.
The Islanders had the most home wins of any Eastern Conference team this season, but have not scored a goal in two games at home in this series.
Tampa Bay has been outshot in every game.
Cory Stillman, Tampa’s second-highest scorer during the regular season, did not return after the first period. He is listed as having a lower body injury.
Game Three: Lightning 3 - Islanders 0
(Lightning lead series 2-1)
Each game in this series has ended 3-0. But the big difference this time was the revival of Tampa Bay's best players. NHL scoring champ Martin St. Louis scored a pair (one into an empty net), while Brad Richards had a goal and two assists. Both had been held pointless in games one and two.
Tampa pulled away early, with a 2-0 lead before the game was seven minutes old.
The Lightning controlled most of the play. But Nikolai Khabibulin made key saves during occasional Islander flurries to preserve a 28-shot shutout.
The home crowd showed its frustration by booing the Islanders in the third period.
Khabilbulin has allowed two goals on 82 shots in three games.
Tampa defenseman Jason Cullimore did not play after suffering an undisclosed injury in the second period.
Game Two: Islanders 3 - Lightning 0
(series tied 1-1)
New York stifled Tampa Bay's high-octane attack. They did the same in game one, but were luckier and made fewer mistakes this time.
The Lightning squandered several promising rushes with unforced errors - poor passing, overskating the puck, etc.
Rick Dipietro's 22-save shutout was his first postseason NHL win.
Tampa's top scorers - St. Louis, Stillman, Richards and Lecavalier - combined for 11 shots in the game, but have 0 points in the series.
Game One: Lightning 3 - Islanders 0
(Lightning lead series 1-0)
New York outshot the Lightning 30-18. But Nikolai Khabibulin was very good, and occasionally lucky, to get the shutout.
Tampa's first two goals came off horrible giveaways by Islanders' defenseman Eric Cairns.
Frederik Modin, coming off the best season of his eight-year career, scored twice.
Series Schedule
All Times Eastern Standard Time
* - denotes "if necessary"
Network television coverage listed in brackets.
Thursday, April 8: Tampa Bay 3 - Islanders 0
Saturday, April 10: Islanders 3 - Tampa Bay 0
Monday, April 12: Tampa Bay 3 - Islanders 0
Wednesday, April 14: Tampa Bay 3 - Islanders 0
Friday, April 16: Tampa Bay 2 - Islanders 1 (OT)
Tampa Bay Wins series 4-1
Lightning vs. Islanders: Series Preview
Stanley Cup 2004: Analysis and Recaps of Every First Round Series
Stanley Cup 2004: First Round Schedule and Results at a Glance
