The Islanders have been struck by Lightning twice.
For the second straight season, the Islanders fell just short of a trip to the Stanley Cup Final, as the Lightning beat them 1-0 Friday night at Amalie Arena to close out the semifinal series and tee up a chance to defend their championship title against the Canadiens.
It was fitting that it was thundering and lightning in Tampa just before puck drop, because the Islanders couldn’t weather the storm as the home team amped up their defense to the point at which the visitors looked static at times.
When the Islanders were supposed to be the ones with the energy, on the lone power play given in the entire game, that was the beginning of the end for their season. A shorthanded goal from the Lightning’s Yanni Gourde at 1:49 of the second period proved to be the only score in the game.
NEW YORK SPORTS THIS WEEK 