NHL; Lightning Take 3-1 Series Lead On Islanders

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) – The Tampa Bay Lightning used a quick-strike attack to take a three-games-to-one lead in the NHL’s Eastern Conference final.  The Lightning are one win away from their first trip to the Stanley Cup final since 2015 following a 4-1 win over the Islanders.  The Lightning’s first two goals came 12 seconds apart midway through the second period. Blake Coleman tied it 15 seconds after Brock Nelson gave the Islanders the lead. Ondrej Palat made it 2-1 at the 11:54 mark.  Brayden Point added an insurance goal 3:33 into the third, returning to the ice after a one-game injury absence.  Pat Maroon added an empty-netter and Andre Vasilevskiy made 26 saves for Tampa Bay.  Isles netminder Semyon Varlamov was brilliant at times while stopping 32 of 35 shots.  Game 5 is Tuesday.