Islanders at Panthers
The Florida Panthers won't have long to lick their wounds after relinquishing home-ice advantage in their first-round series with the New York Islanders. The Atlantic Division-champion Panthers will have less than 24 hours to rebound after watching three one-goal leads evaporate in a 5-4 setback when the clubs reconvene at BB&T Center for Game 2 on Friday.
"I thought our defensive game was bad and some of the (Islanders' goals) were great," Florida coach George Gallant told the Miami Herald. "I'm not going to blame (goaltender Roberto Luongo). He's been our key guy all year long." Captain John Tavares has been the Islanders' main man since he was selected with the top overall pick of the 2009 draft — and the 25-year-old didn't disappoint Thursday. Tavares continued his torrid stretch as he followed up a nine-point performance over his final four games of the regular season with a playoff-best three-point effort (goal, two assists) in the series opener. "It's one game," Tavares told reporters. "We've got to put it behind us and move on to the next one. I think that's what we've learned from the past."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network, SN360, TVAS3, MSG-Plus (New York), SUN (Florida)
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS: Thomas Greiss made 42 saves in his first playoff start, but perhaps none bigger than thwarting Jaromir Jagr's point-blank chance with a sliding pad stop in the final minute of regulation. "I felt it hit me, then I had no clue where it went after that," the 30-year-old netminder told Newsday. Playing in place of the injured Jaroslav Halak, Greiss stopped 69-of-77 shots to post a 1-0-1 mark while playing his second game in as many nights this season.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS: Reilly Smith scored twice in the opener, but was more interested in preventing Thursday's result from lingering longer than necessary. "It's frustrating, but we weren't expecting this to be a short series anyway," Smith said. "There were a lot of positives we can take out of the game tonight. Luckily we play (Friday), so we don't have to think about it too much." Fellow forward Jussi Jokinen scored a goal and set up two others to increase his point total to 12 in as many playoff games.
OVERTIME
1. Jagr has recorded 16 assists — but no goals — during his last 32 playoff games.
2. New York is vying for its first 2-0 series lead since the 1983 Stanley Cup Final. The Islanders went on to sweep Edmonton for their fourth consecutive championship.
3. Luongo has lost his last seven postseason starts dating to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final when his Vancouver Canucks failed to seal the deal versus Boston.