Stamkos snaps drought, Lightning explode for 8-0 win over Isles
''This showed our bounce-back ability.''
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Steven Stamkos rediscovered his scoring touch, and Brayden Point stretched his goal streak to eight games as the Tampa Bay Lightning routed the New York Islanders 8-0 in the fifth game of their NHL semi-final series.
Stamkos and Alex Killorn both had two goals and one assist, and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 21 shots for his fourth shutout of the playoffs as the defending Stanley Cup champions seized a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
This showed our bounce-back ability, said Stamkos of the Lightning, who lost game four 3-2. Coming off a loss we have always found a way to win.
Point scored on the powerplay in the third period in front of a crowd of 14,700 at the Amalie Arena. The Canadian forward has now scored in eight straight games, one of the longest playoff scoring streaks in league history. He leads the NHL with 13 goals in the postseason.
The Islanders were not only blown out Monday, but they also may have lost their top player Mathew Barzal to a possible suspension after he delivered a cross check to the head of Lightning defenceman Jan Rutta.
The Lightning can wrap up the series and advance to their second straight NHL finals with a win on the road Wednesday at Nassau Coliseum. If there is a game seven, it would be Friday in Florida.
Stamkos had no goals heading into Monday s contest as the Lightning scored almost as many goals in game five as they had in the first four games of the series (nine).
The Lightning captain said this is going to be a confidence booster.
There was no frustration. You never know when it is going to be your night, Stamkos said. I had some better looks tonight so this is going to give me some confidence.
Yanni Gourde, Ondrej Palat and Luke Schenn also scored for the Lightning, who stormed out of the gate but benefitted from lucky bounces on their first three goals in the first period.
Islanders all-star and top goal scorer Barzal was slapped with a game misconduct and five-minute major penalty for his cross check to the neck area of Czech Rutta as the two jostled in front of the players benches at the end of the second.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz tried unsuccessfully to stem the tide of Lightning goals by pulling starting goaltender Semyon Varlamov after the puck hit Killorn up high and deflected into the net to make it 3-0.
Varlamov, who allowed three goals on just 16 shots, was replaced by Ilya Sorokin, who allowed the other five goals in what is the most lopsided playoff defeat in New York franchise history.
