New York Islanders
Recharged: Islanders Lineup, Matchups and Notes for Game 2 vs. Tampa
Barry Trotz could tinker with the New York Islanders lineup for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight, but that will depend on the status of Cal Clutterbuck and some other matchups against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Islanders coach revealed this afternoon that Clutterbuck will be a game-time decision. The Islanders did not practice on Tuesday.
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Clutterbuck blocked a shot in the second period of Game 1 and was slow to get up off the ice. He left the game and did not return afterward. Clutterbuck did briefly appear on the Islanders bench during the third period before going back to the Islanders’ dressing room.
As for the rest of the lineup, Trotz told reporters over Zoom that he was contemplating changes.
“We went back and forth on a few people in terms of what we might need going forward here,” Trotz said. “We might make some certain lineups and then some of it might be predicated on obviously the status of Clutterbuck tonight.”
The Islanders have changed up the lineup at certain points during the playoffs. Ross Johnston took Michael Dal Colle’s spot in Game 1 against Tampa on Monday, for instance.
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It’s also not known who will be in net for the Islanders when they hit the ice for warmups. Thomas Greiss started Game 1, but was pulled after allowing three goals in the first period. Semyon Varlamov didn’t fare much better allowing five goals in relief.
In fairness, the Islanders were completely outplayed by the Lightning in Game 1 as New York looked like a team that was tired after playing a seven-game series and then flying across the country. Tonight the Islanders are looking to put that behind them.
“I think it’s just about getting out there and having a really good start for us, that’s going to be key,” Anthony Beauvillier said. “Make sure we find our game right away. Just make sure we play the Islanders way. I think we just have to wash the last game and just kind of move forward with it. We were all positive yesterday and we know we can do better.
“We know it was just a little bit of mistakes down the road and we have to be better tonight, and I’m sure we will.”
Islanders Look to Make Defensive Adjustments Ahead of Game 2
Islanders Lineup (Projected)
Anders Lee — Mathew Barzal — Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier — Brock Nelson — Josh Bailey
Michael Dal Colle — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Derick Brassard
Matt Martin — Casey Cizikas — Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech — Ryan Pulock
Devon Toews — Scott Mayfield
Nick Leddy — Andy Greene
Thomas Greiss
Semyon Varlamov
Lightning Lineup (Projected)
Ondrej Palat — Brayden Point — Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn — Anthony Cirelli — Tyler Johnson
Barclay Goodrow — Yanni Gourde — Blake Coleman
Pat Maroon — Cedric Paquette
Victor Hedman — Zach Bogosian
Ryan McDonagh — Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev — Kevin Shattenkirk
Luke Schenn
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Curtis McElhinney
Game Notes
Tampa Bay has won five straight playoff games against the Islanders dating back to the Second Round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tampa won that series in five games. … Tampa Bay’s eight goals in Game 1 was the most in a conference finals game since 1992 when Chicago won 8-2 against Edmonton. … Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov each scored five points in Game 1 to set a Tampa franchise record for most points in a single playoff contest. … Jordan Eberle extended his point streak to four games with the Islanders’ first goal in Game 1. Eberle has one goal and four assists for five points in that span. … Monday marked the third time in franchise history that the Islanders allowed eight goals in a playoff game. … The Islanders. are the Isles are 7-15 all-time after losing the first game of a series. … The Islanders are 7-2 when they score the first goal in the playoffs, but 4-4 when they allow their opponent to score first.
How to Watch
The game will air locally and nationally on NBCSN. On the radio dial, the game will air on 98.7 FM ESPN New York, 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.