Oof.
Okay, so, series aren’t won in Game 1, even if the Game 1 winner historically wins the series more frequently than it loses. And a loss like that might be something that could motivate a team to come out angry next time around. I mean, allowing not one, but two guys on the other team to have five-point nights when your hallmark is team defense can’t sit well. I’d be pissed off and motivated to show that’s not me—that’s not us.
But the Islanders are facing a whole new beast in the Lightning and it’s going to take a lot of effort to get past them, if tonight was any indication.