Islanders vs. Lightning: Game 1 Live Score, Highlights for 2016 NHL Playoffs

New York 5, Tampa Bay 3 (New York leads series 1-0) 

The New York Islanders fended off a late challenge from the Tampa Bay Lightning to take Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night.

New York went up by three goals, but Tampa Bay moved within one late in the third period before the Islanders struck for an empty-net goal. 

Ondrej Palat scored the first tally of the series for the Lightning three minutes and five seconds into the first period, but after that the Islanders took over. 

Travis Hamonic leveled the game at one goal apiece before Shane Prince struck for a pair of quick tallies before the end of the first stanza. 

John Tavares extended the New York advantage in the second period with his sixth goal of the postseason. That goal appeared to be enough for the Islanders, but Tampa Bay came out of the locker room firing in the third. 

Nikita Kucherov scored the Lightning's first strike of the third seven minutes into the period and Valtteri Filppula moved the hosts within one goal with less than four minutes remaining.

The Islanders secured the victory with 54 seconds to go in the game on Cal Clutterbuck's empty-net goal. 

The two teams will square off in Game 2 at Amalie Arena on Saturday. 

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