Lightning and Islanders searching for answers to rebound from 2

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Experience tells the Tampa Bay Lightning it’s time to go to work — not panic.

The New York Islanders are also down 2-0 after playing well at times and losing their first two games of the NHL playoffs on the road.

Both teams understand it’ll take a lot more than a return to home ice Thursday night — the Lightning versus Florida, and the Islanders hosting Carolina —to alter the course of those first-round matchups.

New York blew a three-goal lead in its Game 2 loss to the Hurricanes. Tampa Bay dropped a pair of one-goal games to the Panthers to fall behind 2-0 in a series for the first time since losing Games 1 and 2 of the 2020 Eastern Conference on the road to the New York Rangers.

A late empty-net goal wound up being the difference in Game 1. Carter Verhaeghe’s overtime winner decided Game 2.

“They’re really exciting. You’re on the edge of your seat. There are big saves at both ends of the ice, But in the end, they made the last play. And they’ve done it both nights,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.