NHL scores 2016: Lightning take care of business in New York without their potent power play

With only one NHL game on television Monday, you most likely skipped out unless you’re a fan of the Islanders or Lightning. Honestly I wouldn’t have blamed you — and especially you Islanders fans — if you didn’t watch.

Monday’s game between the Lightning and Islanders was over within a 42 second window at the end of the first. Tampa Bay took advantage of a pair of bad Islanders defensive plays and took a 2-0 lead that New York would not be able to surmount. We talked a few days ago about why this could be the curtain call for Jack Capuano behind the Islanders bench. Considering the loss was a pretty uninspired one by his team, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go.

Meanwhile for the Lightning, the victory is their fourth in eight games as they struggle with mediocrity. Our friends over at Raw Charge have put together a great summary of the Lightning’s last week of play and why it’s still too early to worry about a slow start.

Still, Tampa Bay was able to win Monday without their best asset, their power play. All four goals came at even strength, and despite the multiple opportunities the Lightning had on the league’s sixth worst penalty kill, Tampa Bay was shut out on five attempts.

That might just be a sign that things are looking up for the Lightning. Of course, teams will be more successful with a working power play, but to get rolling at even strength is what Tampa Bay needed with their up and down week.

For the Islanders, however, the misery continues.

Lightning 4, Islanders 0

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1. Travis Hamonic was back, but it didn’t matter

When the Islanders defenseman took a shot off the hand against Edmonton back on Nov. 5, most had Hamonic out for four to six weeks. Instead, just four games later Hamonic was back out on the ice against the Lightning. His insertion back into the lineup didn’t really help things much for the Islanders, who had multiple defensive breakdowns in the 4-0 loss, but it is at least a bright spot for New York that one of their top defensemen is back from injury so soon.

2. The Islanders have to be happy to be finished playing the Lightning this year

Wait. A 4-0 loss isn’t too terrible. What are you talking ab—

Oh. Technically it’s 14-2 now after three games. Sorry, Islanders.

3. Steven Stamkos is a great set-up man too

The two second period goals for the Lightning were set up on two brilliant plays by Steven Stamkos.

Both set ups are mirror images of each other. Stamkos used the threat of a wrister to Jaroslav Halak’s glove side to slide a sweet pass cross ice to a waiting recipient, Nikita Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov, respectively. Even when Stamkos isn’t scoring goals, he’s commanding respect from goaltenders and defenders alike that make that pass option deadly for opposing teams.