The Lightning posted a goal in every period last night, including two in the first. Usually when you do that, you’re going to win the game. Because the Lightning defense found their game again last night, that’s exactly what happened.

There were a ton of penalty minutes last night. Between the two teams, there was 34 minutes, with both teams having an extra man five times, and both scored a power play goal. This game should have been a lot closer than it was, but the Lightning were able to out-maneuver the Islanders in five on five.

The Lightning posted 11 more shots, and won more faceoffs than the Islanders. They were able to use their sheer force of will to win a game, taking their second of the pair in their own building.

Every other statistical category goes to the Islanders – 33-31 hits, 14-7 blocked shots, 7-8 giveaways. The Islanders are a team playing to win, and although their defense and goaltending didn’t allow that to happen this game, they will be back in this series.

That’s not to say Tomas Greiss played all badly. Both goaltenders made some spectacular saves, part of the greatness of playoff hockey. It’s just that Bishop got angry about being chased and shut down the Islanders offense after the first period.

This was not the same Bishop that lost the first game, this was the Bishop that got the Lightning into the second round, who played well when the triplets were hurt and nobody was trying too hard. The Bishop that earned himself a Vezina nom – and his nomination is not the one that suggests a problem with awards voting in the NHL. Bishop won the game for the Lightning, and if they’re going to continue winning he’ll play a big part. If he wasn’t injured in the Stanley Cup Finals last year it might have been a very different series.

The other players who came through for the Lightning were Victor Hedman, Tyler Johnson, and Jonathon Drouin. The first two have experienced what it means to play deep into the playoffs, and are reliable stars for the Lightning moving into the future. I’d venture a guess that one of them could likely fill in for Stamkos if he is moving on. Drouin is still a kid needing to prove himself after his… troubles the last year. If he continues to be productive in the playoffs, he could do just that.

For the Islanders, nobody was present all game. Nikolai Kulemin scored the lone goal, but was also a -2, meaning he was on the ice for three goals last night. Not a great night defensively, and the only makeup for that is a hat trick. He didn’t get close to that productivity.