The highest-scoring game of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs so far went to the New York Islanders on Thursday in a 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1.
Islanders vs. Panthers 2016 results: John Tavares leads Islanders to high-octane Game 1 win
The New York captain was nearly unstoppable.
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
John Tavares was a force of nature for the Islanders, registering three points and getting involved in all three of his team's biggest goals on the night despite getting the brunt of Florida's physicality. The Panthers were led offensively by veteran winger Jussi Jokinen, who also scored a goal and registered two assists.
The two clubs essentially traded goals all night long. Florida got on the board first just two minutes into the game when Teddy Purcell took a pass from Jiri Hudler and fired it past Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss. New York answered a few minutes later with a goal from center Brock Nelson.
Jonathan Huberdeau drew a penalty on Islanders winger Cal Clutterbuck, giving the Panthers their first power play of the game with six minutes left in the first period. That's when Jokinen scored his goal, restoring Florida's one-goal lead.
And then John Tavares took over. His assist on Frans Nielsen’s late goal in the first period has to be an early contender for the year’s best playoff goal. And after the Panthers regained the lead again in the second period, Tavares scored his first career road goal to tie the game yet again.
Tavares struck again in the third, stealing a puck from a Panther player along the boards, turning and passing to a wide-open Kyle Okposo for the go-ahead goal. New York scored on two of their first four shots in the period, as Ryan Strome added another shortly after Tavares'.
Florida crawled back into the game with another goal from Reilly Smith, but a late save by Greiss with seconds left in regulation sealed the win for the Islanders.
See More:
