Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman scored twice in Game 5 to help send the Islanders packing in a 4-0 victory for Tampa Bay.
Islanders vs. Lightning results, NHL playoffs 2016: Strong Tampa Bay defense eliminates Islanders in five games
New York’s time in the playoffs is over after a 4-0 shutout in Tampa Bay.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Lightning won four straight games after dropping Game 1 of the series to eliminate the Islanders as Tampa Bay heads to the Eastern Conference Final for the second straight year. Ben Bishop saved 28 in the shutout as the Lightning advance.
Hedman opened the scoring for the Lightning after a dynamic performance on the power play just moments prior. With the Islanders scrambling in their own zone, Hedman picked the pocket of Kyle Okposo in front of the net before pulling a spin-o-rama move and firing the puck high glove side over Thomas Greiss.
Brian Boyle added to Tampa Bay's lead that made it 2-0 at the end of the first. Pressure down below the Islanders blue line resulted in Boyle getting the puck behind the cage. Boyle skated to the front of the net uncovered and got Greiss high over the shoulder to double the Lightning lead.
On an early power play in the second, Hedman extended the Lightning lead to 3-0. Jonathan Drouin dropped back a pass off the boards to Hedman at the point, who fired the puck in past a Boyle screen.
Frustration started to set in on the part of the Islanders, who took four penalties in the second period alone. Though there was more pressure in the Tampa Bay zone, New York could not get many high quality chances generated on Ben Bishop.
Nikita Kucherov scored his ninth goal in 10 games five minutes into the third to seal the win for the Lightning. Kucherov got a breakaway chance and wasted no time in putting the puck five-hole on Greiss for the 4-0 score.
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