UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — The New York Islanders have forced a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Final as they try to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1984.
Anthony Beauvillier (boh-VIH’-lee-ay) scored 78 seconds into overtime to cap the Islanders’ comeback in a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Islanders had to wipe out a 2-0 deficit to force OT before Beauvillier ended his 10-game goal drought.
Brayden Point scored for the ninth straight game to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead in the first period. Anthony Cirelli made it 2-0 late in the second, giving Tampa Bay 12 consecutive goals in the series.
But Jordan Eberle sparked the comeback by scoring less than two minutes later. Scott Mayfield tied it midway through the third before Beauvillier set up a winner-take-all meeting with the Lightning in Tampa on Friday.
Mat Barzal (bahr-ZAL’) had two assists and Semyon Varlamov (SEHM’-yahn vahr-LAH’-mahv) stopped 22 shots for the Islanders.
Andre Vasilevskiy (va-sih-LEHV’-skee) turned back 25 shots, who were without Nikita Kucherov (KOO’-cheh-rahv) for all but the opening minute. Kucherov appeared to suffer a back injury when he was crosschecked by Mayfield.
Photo: New York Islanders fans cheer after Game 6 of an NHL hockey semifinals against the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. The Islanders won 3-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
