Tampa Bay at New York

The pressure is on the home team, down 2-1 after blowing home ice the last game, a 5-4 Tampa Bay win in overtime. The Islanders are trailing in a series for the first time this postseason. Tampa Bay has won two in a row, outscoring New York 9-5. The Lightening have talent and balance, #12 in the NHL in goals scored, while the defense is fifth in goals allowed, seventh in penalty killing. The Islanders needed overtime to get three of four victories against the Florida Panthers in the opening round and now face a better Tampa Bay team, the defending Eastern Conference champs. Tampa Bay outshot New York in the opener (36-22), in Game 2 (31-20) and in Game 3 (41-39). Tampa Bay is 14-3 in its last 17 Conference Semifinals games, plus 16-7 when their opponent allows five goals or more in their previous game. New York is just 3-8 playing on two days rest and the value is on the talented visitors to win the game or lose by one goal. Play Tampa Bay on the puckline.