After evening the series on Wednesday night in New York, the Florida Panthers return home for a pivotal Game 5 of their first-round playoff tilt against the New York Islanders on Friday night at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla.
Islanders vs. Panthers, 2016 NHL playoffs: Time, TV schedule and live stream
Robert Duyos-USA TODAY Sports
The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2.
Reilly Smith has led the way for the Panthers with eight points in the series, though he was held scoreless in Wednesday night's 2-1 victory. Defenseman Alex Petrovic, who had all of two goals in the regular season, scored the game-winner in the third period for Florida in Game 4.
Goaltender Roberto Luongo saved 26 of 27 shots on Wednesday, and in the series has a .918 save percentage.
The Islanders scored five goals in their Game 1 win, and four more in an overtime win in Game 3. But in both losses this series they were held to one goal each time.
“You are not going to win many games when you score one goal and the same guys score,” Islanders coach Jack Capuano told the Associated Press on Wednesday. “We didn’t create much. We got one line creating all of our offense right now. We have to find a way like we did in Florida when we had secondary scoring and the other night here when we had secondary scoring. If not, it’s going to be tough.”
The Panthers were 25-11-5 at home during the regular season, though they lost Game 1 of this series at BB&T Center.
Islanders vs. Panthers Game 5 coverage
8 p.m. ET | Game 5, Eastern Conference Round 1
BB&T Center | Sunrise, Fla.
Local: MSG+, Sun Sports | National: CNBC, SN
Live stream at NBC Sports Live Extra
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