TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The New York Islanders have opened their semifinal series by knocking off the defending Stanley Cup champs.
Semyon Varlamovmade 30 saves and the Isles got goals from Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock to beat the Lightning, 2-1 in Tampa.
Varlamov blanked Tampa Bay until Brayden Point netted a power-play goal in the final minute. Varlamov won his fourth straight playoff start, joining teammate Ilya Sorokin as only the third pair of netminding teammates to have personal winning streaks of at least four games in a single postseason.
Barzal scored for the fourth time in five games, making it 1-0 on a breakaway in the second period following a bad pass by Lightning captain Steven Stamkos. Pulock doubled New York’s lead with a shot from the point that eluded Andre Vasilevskiy, who was otherwise brilliant in net.
The Islanders will carry a four-game winning streak into Game 2 on Tuesday in Tampa.
