After the 1-2 loss on Monday night, 4-2 to Tampa Bay at home was most welcome. The team has not lost two playoff games in a row since the first round in 2019.
– It is a struggle to lose two in a row during a playoff. But we showed that we were hungry and ready to go out and fight and do what was required, says Victor Hedman who also provided an assist.
– We are super happy with the win and look forward to going to (Islanders home ice on) Long Island to play again.
As they have only played in the divisions until now, the opposition is difficult to scout.
– The playoffs are so special this year, you play against teams you have not met throughout the season. You really have to be on your toes, both physically and mentally and we were tonight. In the last game, it was the Islanders who were a little better, says Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper.
Islanders goalkeeper Semjon Varmalov left the ice with just under seven minutes left of the first period after a collision with Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point. Varmalov was back for games in the second again.
– It goes so fast when something like that happens, I’m just glad he’s okay. You do not want to see anyone injured in such collisions, says Point, who scored a goal.
Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kutjerov scored assist points on three of the team’s goals.
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