The New York Islanders didn’t find the net against the Tampa Bay Lightning until nearly eight minutes into the third period.
That’s when Michael Grabner (with an assist by Mark Streit and Brian Rolston) wristed one in to make it a 3-1 game.
Way too little, way too late.
After Steve Staios was benched two minutes for hooking Ted Purcell, Lightning forward Ryan Malone flicked one in on the power play to go up one-zip in the first.
Vincent Lecavalier joined the party in the second stanza to make it a two point lead before Steven Stamkos put Tampa Bay up 3-1 in the third period.
Brett Clark made it 4-1 with a tip-in shortly thereafter.
It was a disappointing loss for the Islanders, who drop to 3-2-0 with the loss while Tampa Bay starts to dig themselves out of the hole by improving to 2-3-2.
For more on tonight’s game visit our Islanders blog Lighthouse Hockey and SB Nation New York. Also, check out our Lightning blog Raw Charge and SB Nation Tampa Bay.