November 13, 2024

Lightning will have to close out Islanders back home in Game 7

Islanders #Islanders

a group of people skiing on the snow: The New York Islanders celebrate the game winning overtime goal, unassisted on a take away, scored by left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) as the Lightning are defeated by the Islanders during overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times The New York Islanders celebrate the game winning overtime goal, unassisted on a take away, scored by left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) as the Lightning are defeated by the Islanders during overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Going into their Stanley Cup semifinal series, the Lightning realized how tough an opponent the Islanders would be, how physical they play, and how much of a charge they get from their fans at home in the Nassau Coliseum, something Tampa Bay didn’t have to overcome last postseason in the bubble.

a group of people that are standing in the snow: Tampa Bay Lightning players skate off after New York Islanders left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) scores the game winning overtime goal, unassisted on a take away, as the Lightning are defeated by the Islanders during overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning players skate off after New York Islanders left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) scores the game winning overtime goal, unassisted on a take away, as the Lightning are defeated by the Islanders during overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale.

The roof came off Nassau Coliseum as Anthony Beauvillier’s shot found the back of the net in overtime, sending the Lightning quietly down the tunnel and back home for a decisive Game 7.

a person skiing on the snow: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) and center Blake Coleman (20) look on after the puck bounces out of the net as New York Islanders left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) scores the game winning overtime goal, unassisted on a take away, as the Lightning are defeated by the Islanders during overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) and center Blake Coleman (20) look on after the puck bounces out of the net as New York Islanders left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) scores the game winning overtime goal, unassisted on a take away, as the Lightning are defeated by the Islanders during overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale.

Beer bottles and water bottles rained down onto the ice in celebration of the Islanders’ 3-2 victory. Beauvillier’s goal came with 1:08 into overtime off a Lightning turnover in their own zone.

a man riding skis down a snow covered slope: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) looks back as the puck bounces out of the net as New York Islanders left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) scores the game winning overtime goal, unassisted on a take away, as the Lightning are defeated by the Islanders during overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) looks back as the puck bounces out of the net as New York Islanders left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) scores the game winning overtime goal, unassisted on a take away, as the Lightning are defeated by the Islanders during overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale.

The Lightning go into their first winner-take-all Game 7 of the last two postseasons, Friday night at Amalie Arena.

a hockey game in the snow: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27), goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) and defenseman David Savard (58) look on after getting beat on a goal by New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) during the third period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27), goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) and defenseman David Savard (58) look on after getting beat on a goal by New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) during the third period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale.

As Game 6 wound down, the Lightning battled a resilient Islanders team and a hometown crowd energized by Scott Mayfield’s tying goal with 9:44 left in the third.

a group of men wearing suits and ties: Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper talks with his team as they face the New York Islanders during the third period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper talks with his team as they face the New York Islanders during the third period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale.

The Lightning saw a two-goal, second-period lead disappear, forcing the game into overtime. Mayfield, who had just two goals this season, jumped into the zone and rifled a shot high that deflected off the crossbar and into the net.

a group of people riding skis on a snowy surface: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) hits New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck (15) in front of the net during the third period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) hits New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck (15) in front of the net during the third period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale.

By the end of Game 6, the Lightning wore the battle scars of a their most hard-fought series of the past two posteasons. Captain Steven Stamkos skated into the locker room at the end of the second period with blood flowing from the bridge of his nose after he had his face smashed into the glass on a crosscheck from Mayfield in the New York zone.

a hockey game in the snow: Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates his goal as New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy (2) and goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) look on during the second period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates his goal as New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy (2) and goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) look on during the second period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale.

Mayfield brought the Lightning bench to a boil in the first minutes of Wednesday night’s game, cross checking forward Nikita Kucherov from behind, sending this postseason’s top player to the ground with a bone-rattling hit to his lower back. After Kucherov awkwardly boarded Mathew Barzal into the boards, he skated off the ice and into the tunnel hunched over.

a group of baseball players that are standing in the snow: Players scuffle during the end of the second period between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Players scuffle during the end of the second period between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale.

Brayden Point put the Lightning up 1-0 with a backhanded goal in front of the net with 4:58 left in the first, running his goal streak to nine games.

a group of people racing each other on a snow covered slope: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) looks on as New York Islanders right wing Leo Komarov (47) and right wing Jordan Eberle (7) celebrate the goal by Eberle during the second period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) looks on as New York Islanders right wing Leo Komarov (47) and right wing Jordan Eberle (7) celebrate the goal by Eberle during the second period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale.

Point has scored so many ways, and Wednesday, he raced behind the net and won a puck battle with Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech, then sped in front of the net across the crease, took a pass from Anthony Cirelli and flicked the puck past goaltender Semyon Varlamov with Pelech on his back.

a group of baseball players standing on top of each other: Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) celebrates his goal with defenseman Jan Rutta during the first period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) celebrates his goal with defenseman Jan Rutta during the first period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale.

With that goal, Point moved within one of the longest playoff goal streak in NHL history. The Flyers’ Reggie Leach scored in 10 straight postseason games in 1976.

a group of people sitting in the snow: Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) celebrates with left wing Ondrej Palat (18) after Point scored against New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) during the first period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) celebrates with left wing Ondrej Palat (18) after Point scored against New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) during the first period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale.

Cirelli, who scored the game-winning goal in last year’s series-clinching Game 6 win over the Islanders, gave the Lightning a two-goal cushion.

a hockey player standing in the snow: Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ross Colton (79) and defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) on the ice during warm ups before taking on the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ross Colton (79) and defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) on the ice during warm ups before taking on the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale.

Ondrej Palat sent a stretch pass to Cirelli along the far boards and Cirelli swept in through the left circle and snapped a wrister past Varlamov stickside with 7:24 left in the second period.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) knocks the stack of pucks off the wall of the bench at the start of warm ups before taking on the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) knocks the stack of pucks off the wall of the bench at the start of warm ups before taking on the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Uniondale.

Jordan Eberle cut the Tampa Bay lead to one with 5:38 left in the second period with a backhanded score that beat Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stickside. The Islanders had a golden chance late in the period. Matt Martin’s tip had Vasilevskiy overcommitted to the near post, and the puck skated across an empty crease, but David Savard blocked Casey Cizikas from getting his stick on it with his own stick.

a group of people on a stage in front of a crowd: Lightning fans cheer as the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal during the official watch party inside of Amalie Arena in Tampa. © Luis Santana/Times Lightning fans cheer as the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal during the official watch party inside of Amalie Arena in Tampa.

The Islanders came out with a huge flurry in the third, and the Lightning killed off a critical penalty in the middle of the period, holding New York to just one shot on that man advantage. The Lightning killed off all three Islanders power plays, including a 5-on-3 in the second period.

a man standing in front of a store: Tampa Bay Lightning Blue Crew member Zach Wrenn pumps up fans as they watch the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal at Amalie Arena in Tampa. © Luis Santana/Times Tampa Bay Lightning Blue Crew member Zach Wrenn pumps up fans as they watch the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

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a group of people in front of a crowd: Fans react as they watch the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal at Amalie Arena in Tampa. © Luis Santana/Times Fans react as they watch the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the New York Islanders in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

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a hockey game in the snow: Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) goes down hard after a hit by New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) during the first period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale. © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) goes down hard after a hit by New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) during the first period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale.

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a group of hockey players on the snow: Lightning center Blake Coleman (20) and right wing Barclay Goodrow (19) look on as Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) celebrates his goal during the third period, which sent Game 6 to overtime. © Dirk Shadd/Times Lightning center Blake Coleman (20) and right wing Barclay Goodrow (19) look on as Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) celebrates his goal during the third period, which sent Game 6 to overtime. a group of baseball players posing for a picture: Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21), center, celebrates his goal during the first period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale. From left is Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77), left wing Ondrej Palat (18) center Brayden Point (21), defenseman Jan Rutta (44) and center Anthony Cirelli © Dirk Shadd/Times Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21), center, celebrates his goal during the first period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Uniondale. From left is Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77), left wing Ondrej Palat (18) center Brayden Point (21), defenseman Jan Rutta (44) and center Anthony Cirelli

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