"Roy praised the Islanders' "really good first period," where they built a 2-0 lead and dictated the pace. But a string of second-period penalties, he said, shifted momentum sharply. "They have a very good power play and that gave them the momentum," Roy said. "But coming back to the dressing room still up by one goal - that was one of the key moments in the game.""
"The Lightning controlled possession for much of the night, but Ilya Sorokin erased mistake after mistake with what Roy called an "outstanding" performance. Roy noted that at five-on-five, the Islanders allowed just 24 or 26 shots. "He made things look simple," Roy said. "That's when you know someone is in his zone and playing some really good hockey." Roy credited Sorokin - and backup David Rittich - for giving the Islanders confidence even when games tighten late or go beyond regulation."
The Islanders built a 2-0 first-period lead and dictated the pace before second-period penalties shifted momentum to Tampa Bay's power play. The team retained a one-goal lead into intermission, which helped preserve confidence. Ilya Sorokin delivered an outstanding performance, erasing mistakes and making key saves while Tampa Bay controlled much of the possession. Backup David Rittich added depth and helped maintain confidence when the game tightened or extended beyond regulation. The Islanders showed defensive resilience in the third period after Tampa Bay closed fast and limited sustained offensive-zone pressure. Offensive contributions included Jonathan Drouin's return, the Cal Ritchie line, and Emil Heineman's perfect shootout record this season, securing the 3-2 shootout victory.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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