Brayden Point‘s sixth straight game with a goal led the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 2-1 win on Long Island on Thursday.  The Bolts now lead their Stanley Cup semifinal series 2-1 over the New York Islanders as they go for the road sweep on Saturday.

Tampa is a -130 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 5.0.

Lightning vs. Islanders Stanley Cup Odds

Early Sports Interaction bettors are split straight down the middle on which team to take and the Over/Under.  It’s worth noting, however, the total has gone Under in four of the last five games between these teams.  The Lightning are heavy -535 favourites to win the series.  At +119, Tampa slightly edges out the Vegas Golden Knights as the Stanley Cup favourite.

It says a lot about this Lightning defence that as offensively talented as the roster is, six straight road games and eight of Tampa’s last 10 games overall have gone Under.  They’re 7-3 straight up in their last 10 games against the Islanders and 9-3 SU in their last 12 games on Long Island.

New York has dropped to 8-4 SU in their last 12 games, but the bigger concern is their play at home.  The Islanders picked up 25 of their 41 regular season wins at Nassau Coliseum, but they’ve only won four of seven home games in the playoffs, a number that needs to improve if they’re going to have a shot in the series.

Teams that take a 2-1 series lead are 89-25 (.781) winning an NHL best-of-7 semifinal series.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Point is proving to be an elite playoff player for the second straight postseason.  He leads the playoffs with 11 goals and his marker in Game 3 was his third game-winning goal of the postseason.  Point’s six-game goal streak is the longest in the Stanley Cup playoffs since Martin Havlat did it for Ottawa in 2006.  If he can score again in Game 4, it will tie him with Claude Lemieux (1997), Joe Sakic (1996), Mario Lemieux (1996), Pat LaFontaine (1992) and Mario Lemieux again (1991) for the longest streak in the last 30 years.  Sakic’s streak in 1996 and Lemieux’s streak in 1991 led to Stanley Cup championships.

The other goalscorer for Tampa in Game 3 was Yanni Gourde, who had the opening goal.  With the win, the Lighting improved to 10-1 in the postseason when scoring first.  They’re 0-3 when allowing the first goal.  Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves.  The road has been good for Tampa in the playoffs, as they’ve gone 6-1 outside of Amalie Arena.  Vasilevskiy has posted a 1.58 goals-against average and .953 save percentage in the Bolts’ seven postseason road games.

New York Islanders

Despite outshooting the Lightning 28-25 in Game 3, including 8-5 in the third period, New York just couldn’t find a way to win.  Cal Clutterbuck‘s fourth goal of the playoffs was the only Islanders shot to find the back of the net.  Semyon Varlamov made 23 saves.  The loss was actually par for the course for the Isles this postseason.  New York has now lost Game 3 at home and trailed 2-1 in all three rounds this year.  They’ve always answered the bell though, coming back to win three straight games against Pittsburgh in the first round and three straight against Boston in the second round.

NHL Playoff Prediction: Who Will Win Lightning vs. Islanders?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lightning Team Leaders

TB

Points	Brayden Point 48
+ / -	Barclay Goodrow 16
Shots	Victor Hedman 136
Penalty Mins	Pat Maroon 60
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 31
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 2.21

NYI

Points	Mathew Barzal 45
+ / -	Ryan Pulock 15
Shots	Mathew Barzal 134
Penalty Mins	Mathew Barzal 48
Wins	Semyon Varlamov 19
GAA	Semyon Varlamov 2.04

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 32
+ / -	Ryan McDonagh 18
Shots	Nikita Kucherov 62
Penalty Mins	Pat Maroon 37
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 16
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 1.9

NYI

Points	Mathew Barzal 14
+ / -	Scott Mayfield 12
Shots	Anthony Beauvillier 53
Penalty Mins	Matt Martin 43
Wins	Semyon Varlamov 7
GAA	Semyon Varlamov 2.56

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Islanders Team Leaders

TB

Points	Brayden Point 48
+ / -	Barclay Goodrow 16
Shots	Victor Hedman 136
Penalty Mins	Pat Maroon 60
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 31
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 2.21

NYI

Points	Mathew Barzal 45
+ / -	Ryan Pulock 15
Shots	Mathew Barzal 134
Penalty Mins	Mathew Barzal 48
Wins	Semyon Varlamov 19
GAA	Semyon Varlamov 2.04

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 32
+ / -	Ryan McDonagh 18
Shots	Nikita Kucherov 62
Penalty Mins	Pat Maroon 37
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 16
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 1.9

NYI

Points	Mathew Barzal 14
+ / -	Scott Mayfield 12
Shots	Anthony Beauvillier 53
Penalty Mins	Matt Martin 43
Wins	Semyon Varlamov 7
GAA	Semyon Varlamov 2.56

Injuries

Tampa Bay

Tyler Johnson (C)

Prob Fri Undisclosed - 02 / 07 / 21

Ross Colton (C)

Prob Fri Undisclosed - 02 / 07 / 21

Alex Killorn (LW)

Ques Fri Foot - 29 / 06 / 21

Nikita Kucherov (RW)

Ques Fri Upper Body - 23 / 06 / 21

Jan Rutta (D)

Prob Wed Undisclosed - 22 / 06 / 21

Erik Cernak (D)

Ques Fri Upper Body - 21 / 06 / 21

Anthony Cirelli (C)

Prob Thurs Undisclosed - 16 / 06 / 21

Erik Cernak (D)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 31 / 05 / 21

David Savard (D)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 30 / 05 / 21

Nikita Kucherov (RW)

Ques Mon Leg - 22 / 05 / 21

NY Islanders

Jean-Gabriel Pageau (C)

Prob Thurs Undisclosed - 16 / 06 / 21

Michael Dal Colle (LW)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 27 / 05 / 21

Oliver Wahlstrom (RW)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 25 / 05 / 21

Semyon Varlamov (G)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 13 / 05 / 21

Mathew Barzal (C)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 04 / 05 / 21

Leo Komarov (RW)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 04 / 05 / 21

Matt Martin (LW)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 04 / 05 / 21

Jean-Gabriel Pageau (C)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 03 / 05 / 21

Semyon Varlamov (G)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 27 / 04 / 21

Josh Bailey (RW)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 16 / 04 / 21

Injuries

Tampa Bay

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyler Johnson (C)	Prob Fri	Undisclosed - 02 / 07 / 21	2-1	1-1-1	+ -
Johnson is dealing with an undefined issue, but he is expected to lace up versus the Canadiens in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Ross Colton (C)	Prob Fri	Undisclosed - 02 / 07 / 21	2-1	1-1-1	+ -
Colton is projected to face the Canadiens in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals despite an unspecified ailment.
Alex Killorn (LW)	Ques Fri	Foot - 29 / 06 / 21	3-1	2-1-1	+ -
Killorn is bothered by a foot injury, and it has yet to be established if he will suit up for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Canadiens.
Nikita Kucherov (RW)	Ques Fri	Upper Body - 23 / 06 / 21	4-3	3-2-2	+ -
Kucherov is bothered by an upper-body injury, and it is up in the air if he will lace up for Game 7 of the NHL semifinals versus the Islanders.
Jan Rutta (D)	Prob Wed	Undisclosed - 22 / 06 / 21	4-3	3-2-2	+ -
Rutta is bothered by an unspecified ailment, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Game 6 of the NHL semifinals versus the Islanders.
Erik Cernak (D)	Ques Fri	Upper Body - 21 / 06 / 21	4-4	3-2-3	+ -
Cernak is managing an upper-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will take on the Islanders in Game 7 of the NHL semifinals.
Anthony Cirelli (C)	Prob Thurs	Undisclosed - 16 / 06 / 21	5-5	4-3-3	+ -
Cirelli is managing an unspecified ailment, but it is expected that he will be available for Game 3 of the NHL semifinals versus the Islanders.
Erik Cernak (D)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 31 / 05 / 21	9-7	5-8-3	+ -
Cernak is battling an undefined issue, and it is unclear if he will lace up for Game 2 of the Central Division finals versus the Hurricanes.
David Savard (D)	Ques Sat	Upper Body - 30 / 05 / 21	10-7	5-9-3	+ -
Savard is managing an upper-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will take on the Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Central Division finals.
Nikita Kucherov (RW)	Ques Mon	Leg - 22 / 05 / 21	11-9	7-10-3	+ -
Kucherov is dealing with a left leg injury, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Panthers in Game 5 of the Central Division semifinals.

NY Islanders

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (C)	Prob Thurs	Undisclosed - 16 / 06 / 21	3-2	2-1-2	+ -
Pageau is nursing an undetermined injury, but it is likely that he will lace up against the Lightning in Game 3 of the NHL semifinals.
Michael Dal Colle (LW)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 27 / 05 / 21	10-3	7-3-3	+ -
Dal Colle is dealing with an undisclosed injury, but it is likely that he will dress for Game 2 of the NHL semifinals against the Lightning.
Oliver Wahlstrom (RW)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 25 / 05 / 21	11-3	7-4-3	+ -
Wahlstrom is out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, and it is uncertain how long he will be idle.
Semyon Varlamov (G)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 13 / 05 / 21	15-4	9-6-4	+ -
Varlamov is managing an unknown injury, and it is unknown if he will be in the line up for Game 2 of the East Division semifinals versus the Penguins.
Mathew Barzal (C)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 04 / 05 / 21	16-7	12-7-4	+ -
Barzal has missed the last two games due to an undefined ailment, and it is unknown if he will face the Devils on Saturday.
Leo Komarov (RW)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 04 / 05 / 21	16-7	12-7-4	+ -
Komarov has been held out of the last two contests with an unspecified injury, leaving his status against the Devils on Saturday hazy.
Matt Martin (LW)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 04 / 05 / 21	16-7	12-7-4	+ -
Martin sat out the previous contest with an unknown ailment, and it remains to be seen if he will be available for Thursday's matchup with the Devils.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (C)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 03 / 05 / 21	17-7	12-8-4	+ -
Pageau sat out the last game with an undisclosed issue, and it remains to be seen if he will take the ice on Tuesday versus the Sabres.
Semyon Varlamov (G)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 27 / 04 / 21	19-8	13-10-4	+ -
Varlamov sat out the previous game with an unspecified injury, and it is uncertain if he will be available for Thursday's matchup with the Rangers.
Josh Bailey (RW)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 16 / 04 / 21	20-12	14-13-5	+ -
Bailey has missed the previous two contests with an undisclosed injury, but it is likely that he will be active Tuesday versus the Rangers.