Gerard Gallant stuck with his man, and was rewarded with an impressive performance on the tail end of a back-to-back from Roberto Luongo. Despite giving up five goals the previous night, Luongo was beaten just once late in the game and saved 41 in the 3-1 victory.
Islanders vs. Panthers 2016 results: Panthers even series at 1-1 with strong goaltending
Roberto Luongo made 41 saves in the victory.
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Red hot Reilly Smith gave the Panthers an early lead four minutes into the game with his third goal of the series thus far. The Islanders failed to pick up Smith as the trailer on a rush and the forward put home a juicy rebound off the pads of Thomas Greiss for Florida's first score of the night.
Nick Bjugstad added to the Panthers lead to double up on the Islanders for the first time in the series in the second period. Smith set up the play from behind the net and Bjugstad got the tip in past Greiss' glove side.
The Islanders finally broke through in the dying moments of the third period. Captain Jonathan Tavares -- who had three points in Game 1 -- picked up some garbage at the side of the net and put home his second of the series to make it 2-1.
Despite the tense final moments, Dmitri Kulikov got the empty net goal for the Panthers to keep an Islander comeback off the table and even the series to 1-1.
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