Advertisement

Islanders' top line, like others before it, no threat to Lightning so far

Mathew Barzal, Jordan Eberle and Anders Lee have a single goal between them during this Eastern Conference final.
 
The Lightning's Erik Cernak protects the puck from the Islanders' Anders Lee during the third period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final.
The Lightning's Erik Cernak protects the puck from the Islanders' Anders Lee during the third period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. [ MARKO DITKUN | Special to the Times ]
Published Sept. 14, 2020

EDMONTON — The Lightning have sent a clear message to the league’s top lines in these playoffs: Every shift will be incredibly tough and opponents will pay a price.

Tampa Bay team did a superb job against Boston’s top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak in their second-round series, stymying a trio — and two of the top 6 scorers in the NHL in Pastrnak and Marchand — that combined for 107 goals and 238 points in the regular season.

In the Eastern Conference final, they have simply made life miserable for the Islanders' top guns. New York’s top line of Mathew Barzal, Jordan Eberle and captain Anders Lee have combined for just one goal and five assists in the series and are a combined -11.

Related: Lightning’s Steven Stamkos is skating but not yet ready to play

Even more impressive is that it’s not just one player or one line tasked with shutting down the other team’s stars. It’s everyone’s job.

“From our end, we try to limit his (Barzal) time and space as much as possible. He does a great job getting back for pucks and building up his speed,” Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said.

“We have two great speedy centers in (Anthony) Cirelli and (Brayden) Point who get that matchup a lot, and Yanni Gourde is someone who can be very frustrating defensively. They’ve matched up well against them.

"We’ve tried to play him hard and make sure he’s not getting the creativity and time to really help elevate his game.”

The Lightning's Victor Hedman (77) checks the Islanders' Mathew Barzal (13) during the second period of Sunday's game. [ JASON FRANSON | The Canadian Press via AP ]

Barzal, 23, is an elite playmaker and one of the NHL’s young bright stars, but he has been held to just two assists in the series and clearly looks frustrated when he returns to the bench after most shifts.

Lee is a former 40-goal scorer and a big power forward, but has been hardly noticeable. Eberle has had a knack for scoring big goals throughout his 10-year career, but has found the back of the net just once.

If the Islanders have any hope of getting back in this series, this trio needs to start producing.

“We’d love to be producing more than we have,” Lee said. "Tampa’s doing a really good job of limiting us, but we have to do a better job with the opportunities we get to put the puck in the net.

“We’re still alive here. There’s no sense of doubt with our group. To get where we want to go, it’s not going to be easy. It’s not going to be all roses. You’re not going to come off these things just by wanting it. You have to go out there and do it.”

Related: ‘Ultimate compliment’: Lightning need Ondrej Palat on their top line

Barzal who hasn’t scored since Game 6 of the series against Philadelphia, feels getting offensive zone pressure isn’t good enough against the Lightning. They need to become more of a threat when his line is on the ice.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

“When it comes to creating high-danger scoring chances, we haven’t had enough. (Sunday) and in some of the other games, our possession in the O-zone has been pretty solid … but nothing high-danger where the shot is a serious threat.”

Islanders coach Barry Trotz said his big line has put too much pressure on itself in this series. While he has remained positive, he wants his top line to start going to the greasy areas more.

“The more you don’t have success, you start looking for free ice, rather than going into the hard areas and taking ice,” Trotz said.

"We need a total team effort. We have a couple people that need to raise their game and I know they will. We’ve got one life left and we’re going to try and see if we can keep going here. We have to earn the right to keep playing.