Islanders at Lightning
THE STORY: The New York Islanders have rebounded from being shutout in their season opener to win the last three games. They now go on the road for the first time, playing their first game in five days Thursday against the host Tampa Bay Lightning. John Tavares, who did not have a point the first two games, has five goals and three assists in the last two to lead the offense. The defense has also excelled, allowing just six goals in four games. The Lightning are struggling defensively, allowing 23 goals in a five-game losing streak including a 7-4 loss to Florida on Monday. The Islanders handed the Lightning one of those defeats, scoring four in the first period seven days ago.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), SunSports (Tampa).
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (3-1-0): It’s unclear who gets the start in goal. Al Montoya won two of the first three with a .953 save percentage and 1.35 goals-against average while Evgeni Nabokov beat the Rangers on Saturday. It won’t be Rick DiPietro, who is recovering from a concussion but skated Monday. Defenseman Mark Streit, who missed the 2010-11 season with a shoulder injury, has three assists. Tavares is the first Islanders’ player to have two consecutive four-point games since Robert Reichel in 1997.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (1-3-2): Defenseman Mattias Ohlund is already out, recovering from arthroscopic surgery on both knees, and Eric Brewer - his partner much of last season - missed practice Wednesday with an upper-body injury. Brewer is listed as day-to-day for Thursday. The Lightning have allowed the second-most goals (24) in the league. Mathieu Garon, who is 0-1-1 with a .938 save percentage, is expected to start in goal. Defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron leads the team with eight points (two goals).
OVERTIME:
1. The Lightning killed off the first 22 power plays of the season, but are just 7-for-14 since.
2. New York won both games at Tampa Bay last season – one in OT.
3. The Lightning has allowed the first goal in five of six games.