Islanders vs. Panthers 2016 final score: New York finishes Florida in double overtime 2-1
The Islanders now take the series back to New York with a chance to advance.
There were 81 combined shots in the game that lasted almost 100 minutes, as Thomas Greiss got the win with 40 of them.
The Islanders struck first on Frans Nielsen's rebound goal at 13:31 of the opening period. A failed Panthers clear in front of the net resulted in multiple Islanders chances before Nielsen got it past Roberto Luongo's glove.
Florida pushed back in the second with 14 shots to New York's seven, but it wasn't until two minutes into the third when the Panthers were able to get on the board. Aleksander Barkov tapped in a cross-ice feed from Alex Petrovic that evened the score at 1-1. The play was challenged for offside, but Vincent Trocheck's back skate was deemed to be onside.
Both sides pushed for the tie-breaker, but after an even 6-6 shot total in the third period, the game had to be decided by overtime.
Things got crazy in overtime, after Calvin de Haan closed his hand around the puck in the blue paint, giving the Panthers a rare penalty shot. Thomas Greiss denied the attempt from Barkov to keep the game alive for the Islanders.
A second overtime was needed to finish this game. A lengthy delay was needed after Nick Bjugstad toe-picked head first into the boards, as the forward hit his head hard on a freak accident.
With a third overtime possibly looming, the Islanders ended it on a power play. Alan Quine’s one-timer from the top of the face off circle was able to beat Roberto Luongo through a screen for the 2-1 score at the 96 minute mark of the game.
