NHL Final 4: Islanders Jump Out To 1-0 Series Lead With Game 1 Win Over Lightning In Tampa Sunday Afternoon; VGK vs Montreal Monday

June 13, 2021June 13, 2021 Alan Snel Brayden Point, Mat Barzal, Ryan Pulock, Semyon Varlamov

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

For all you folks who believe the Vegas Golden Knights will be hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL Final, the New York Islanders would like to have a word with you.

The Islanders defeated the defending NHL champion Lightning, 2-1, in Game 1 in downtown Tampa and grabbed a 1-0 series lead in the league semifinal Sunday afternoon. New York netminder Semyon Varlamov notched the win.

Mathew Barzal scored for the Isles in period two, while the Islanders’ Ryan Pulock scored just inside the blue line 5:36 into the third period to give the Isles a 2-0 lead.

Both Isles goals came off Tampa turnovers. New York played a solid defensive game, limiting turnovers and second-chance shots by the Lightning.

Tampa’s Brayden Point scored his league-leading ninth playoff goal on a 6 on 4 to cut the lead to 2-1 with 52 seconds left in the final period.

LVSportsBiz.com chatted with Jo Madden of Jo Madden Sports to discuss the betting over/under of Game 1, Islanders vs. Tampa Bay:

The Isles/Tampa winner plays the Golden Knights vs Canadiens victor in the final. LVSportsBiz.com will be at T-Mobile Arena Monday night to report on the VGK action like we have every game this season.

The Islanders defeated two higher seeded teams — Pittsburgh and Boston — to reach the Final 4. Tampa defeated in-state rival Florida, then division champ Carolina to make it to the NHL semis.

Game 1 attendance at Amalie Arena (known originally as the Ice Palace) in the Channelside District section of downtown Tampa: 14,513.