The Lightning's Brayden Point scores on Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss (1) during the first period of the NHL Eastern Conference Final on Monday in Edmonton, Alberta. Credit: AP/Jason Franson
With all due respect to the Panthers, Capitals and Flyers . . . this is different.
Sure, the Islanders have it in them to recover in the Eastern Conference finals after one electric storm of a rout by the Lightning in Game 1 on Monday night in Edmonton.
But this also is true, as evidenced by the 8-2 blowout.
Tampa Bay is really good – scary good – better than those first three Islanders postseason conquests, and a team that is going to be extraordinarily difficult to beat four times in the next six games.