Islanders Defeat Panthers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers

The New York Islanders defeated the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers with a score of 4-2. The Islanders lead the best-of-five series 2-0. The game was played at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario. Here’s a recap of game one between the Islanders and Panthers.

1st Period

Following Game 1 of the series, Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuck was unable to play on Tuesday due to a high hit to the head from Mike Matheson. Andy Greene took the place of Boychuk during Game 2. Both Panthers players Aleksi Saaraela and Brandy Keeper made their first appearance of the series during game two. The two filled in for Dominic Toninato and Riley Stillman. Panthers Lucas Wallmark has not played in a game during this series yet.

 The Panthers initially took control of the game during the first period, after a goal by Mike Hoffman at 11:16 during the first period. Hoffman’s wrist shot, which came from outside of the left circle, went through Varalmov’s skates giving the Panthers their first lead of the series. 

2nd Period

Islanders Matt Martin tied the game at 6:12 during the second period after shooting past Bobrovsky from the top of the crease following a between-the-legs assist from Tom Kuhnhackl making the score 1-1. Barkov gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead after scoring a wrist shot from the left circle during a power-play at 7:54 during the second period. Islanders Ryan Pulock tied the game 2-2 during a power-play with a one-timer at 13:48 during the second period.

Jordan Eberle put the Islanders at an exciting 3-2 lead at 16:27 during the second after shooting from the left circle following a cross-ice assist from Pulock. 

3rd Period

Eberle scored again on a power play by tapping in Anthony Beauvillier‘s one-timer from the left circle, making the score 4-2 at 10:29 during the third period. With Matt Martin and Ryan Pulock scoring, and Semyon Varlamov saving 24 shots, New York is leading 2-0 in the best-of-5 series.

Teams with a 2-0 lead are 98.2 percent winning a best-of-5 NHL series. With Hoffman and Aleksander Barkov scoring, and Sergei Bobrovsky saving 30 shots, Florida is put at the No. 10 seed in the East. Game 3 between these two teams will be played in Toronto, the Eastern Conference hub city, on Wednesday noon ET.