Islanders Shut Down Tampa Bay in Game 1 The Islanders and the Lightning haven’t faced each other since the final buzzer went off in Game 6 of the same series last September. COVID 19 protocols kept the Islanders from exacting any type of revenge on Tampa Bay...until this afternoon. Barry Trotz and Jon Cooper knew there would be a “feeling out period” for each team and there was. From that point on, the Islanders dominated most of the game. New York’s forechecking game picked up right where it left off in Game 6 of the last series vs. the Bruins. The Islanders neutral zone defense was outstanding and kept the Lightning’s explosive offense out of their zone. The style of play was frustrating Tampa Bay and as the last seconds of the second period ticked off, the camera showed Victor Hedman of the Lightning slamming his stick on the ice.