With a 2-1 overtime victory in Game 4 on Friday, the Tampa Bay Lightning are now just one win away from reaching their second straight Eastern Conference Final.
After the New York Islanders came out of the gate hot in taking Game 1, the Lightning have responded with three straight victories.
The Islanders enjoyed a first-round win over the Florida Panthers - their first playoff series win in 23 years - but the feel-good ride has reached its final destination.
With a 3-1 stranglehold on the series, the Lightning will most surely wrap up the series in one of the remaining must-win contests for the Islanders, here's why.
Shutting down Tavares
Captain John Tavares was a beast in the first-round for the Islanders. The 25-year-old potted five goals and 10 points in six games, including the all-important overtime winner that eliminated the Panthers.
Tavares was only held off the scoreboard once during the six games against Florida, but since Game 1 where he had a goal and an assist, the Lightning have silenced Tavares.
Tampa has limited the 25-year-old center to just seven shots and a minus-3 rating in the last three games. Tavares has twice as many goals as the next highest Islander skater, so it's safe to say the Lightning have cut off the head of the snake.
Big guns continue to roll
While Tampa Bay has done well in silencing the big guns of the Islanders, their own weapons, are still firing on all cylinders.
After Friday's contest Victor Hedman, Tyler Johnson, Valterri Filppula, and Jonathan Drouin are all averaging a point-per-game or better against the Islanders. The four mentioned Lightning have combined for six goals so far and we haven't even mentioned playoff scoring leader Nikita Kucherov.
The 22-year-old has found the back of the net three times in four games and has been showing up in the clutch, tying the game for the Lightning in the last two contests.
Kucherov paces the playoffs with eight goals and does not appear to be slowing down, more bad news for the Islanders.
Lightning are relentless
What makes Tampa Bay such a handful to play against - and what has been most aggravating to the Islanders - is that the Lightning never get down on themselves.
As mentioned before, Tampa has picked up comeback wins in the last two contests - including Game 3 that saw Kucherov tie the game with just 39 seconds remaining.
In both OT wins the Lightning have found the back of the net within the first three minutes of the extra frame, and each time holding the Islanders to a stifling zero shots.
Four times in the series the Lightning have tied the game after giving up the lead, but the club has the never-say-die attitude and it is showing.
Individual performances could get the Lightning past the Islanders alone, but the mindset of never being out of any game is what makes the team such a beast to take down.
