2 down 2 to go for our Tampa Bay Lightning. After decisive victories over the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, it’s now time to put away the New York Islanders. The team that takes this series will play for the Stanley Cup. If this seems familiar, it should. The Lightning beat the Islanders 4 games to 2 to advance to the Stanley Cup finals last year. You know what happened then. The big difference this year – no bubble. And the Bolts will have home ice advantage. Games 1 and 2 will be played at Amalie Arena. The series then moves to Long Island for games 3 and 4.
The Islanders defeated the Boston Bruins Wednesday night to advance to this round. Islanders fans chanted “We want Tampa” as the team celebrated the win. To that I say, be careful what you ask for. As in previous rounds, this will be a best of 7 series.
2020 Flashback: Lightning Eliminate The New York Islanders to Advance to Stanley Cup Finals
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Tampa Bay Lightning players hold on to the Prince of Wales Trophy following the series win over the New York Islanders in the first overtime period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Five
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 15: Virtual Tampa Bay Lightning fans cheer on their team during the third period against the New York Islanders in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 15, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: The Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders skate in warm-ups prior to Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Two
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 09: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates Ondrej Palat and Barclay Goodrow after scoring a goal in the final seconds of the third period against the New York Islanders in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 09, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Two
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 09: Luke Schenn #2 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Matt Martin #17 of the New York Islanders fight during the second period at Rogers Place on September 09, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Two
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 09: Ondrej Palat #18, Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 and Barclay Goodrow #19 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate their 2-1 victory as Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates away in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 09, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by Kevin Shattenkirk #22 after scoring a goal against the New York Islanders in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 07, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Josh Bailey #12 of the New York Islanders and Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shake hands following the Lightning's series win over the Islanders in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Two
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 09: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal in the final seconds of the third period against the New York Islanders in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 09, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Tampa Bay Lightning players hold on to the Prince of Wales Trophy following the series win over the New York Islanders in the first overtime period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores a goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Ondrej Palat #18 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores a goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders during the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 07, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders and head coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning shake hands after the Lightning's 2-1 overtime victory in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Four
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after scoring a goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 13, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Two
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 09: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates Ondrej Palat and Barclay Goodrow after scoring a goal in the final seconds of the third period against the New York Islanders in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 09, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Four
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Blake Coleman #20 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores a goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders during the second period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 13, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Tampa Bay Lightning players cluster around the Prince of Wales Trophy following the series win over the New York Islanders in the first overtime period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Three
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 11: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes the save on a breakaway shot attempt by Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders during the first period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 11, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores a goal past Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders during the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 07, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Four
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after scoring a goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders as Mathew Barzal #13 reacts during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 13, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the New York Islanders during the first overtime period to win Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Yanni Gourde #37 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores a goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 07, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the New York Islanders during the first overtime period to win Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
More of Geno’s stories from this week…
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