TAMPA, Fla. — A few notes after the Islanders took Game 1 from the Lightning on Wednesday night.
— The Islanders’ fourth line looked a lot more like the trio that had a fantastic regular season than the one that was too much of a liability in the Florida series.
Casey Cizikas was a wrecking ball, even though his forceful (and clean) collision with Erik Condra left the Tampa forward with a fairly obvious concussion in the first period. That was a strength-vs.-strength play and Cizikas didn’t shy away.
That line created a lot in the offensive zone and generally justified its presence in all situations.