Tavares tallies four points to lead Islanders to 5-1 victory over Lightning

Forward John Tavares recorded four points (two goals, two assists) to lead the New York Islanders (2-1-0) to a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning (1-2-1) in hockey action on Thursday night. Tavares took some big hits in the game, including one that made him miss out on his First Star honor of the night.

There has been no word yet on if the forward has to miss out on action with the team with the injury. Tavares opened up the scoring at the 0:36 mark, on an unassisted writer. The alternate captain set up the second goal of the night at the 9:28 mark, helping on Matt Moulson’s first goal of the season.

Tavares tallied his second goal of the game and season at the 15:15 mark, on a writer, which was set up by Moulson and P.A. Parenteau for the 3-1 Islanders lead. Parenteau recorded his first goal of the season about three minutes later, which wrapped up the scoring in the first period of play.

New York found the back of the net one final time, as Michael Grabner wristed home his first goal at the 6:47 mark. Isles keeper Al Montoya continued his stellar starts in the cage, making 34 stops in the game. The lone goal given up by the keeper was at the 7:10 mark in the first period, when Lightning star Steve Stamkos recorded his first goal of the season.

Montoya and the rest of the Isles defense kept Tampa Bay’s potent offense blanked for the rest of the game, to pick up their second victory of the season. Blue liner Mark Eaton had a great game on defense for the Islanders, finishing with a plus 3 night along with two blocked shots.

The Isles will now square-off against their Atlantic Division rivals the New York Rangers on Saturday for the first round of what should be a spirited rivalry. The puck is slated to drop at 7:00 p.m. with the game scheduled to air on MSG Plus.

Stacy Podelski

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