Rob Simpson: A familiar story as Islanders edge Panthers (again)

Column by Rob Simpson from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto

TORONTO — Islanders hockey. Don’t make it any easier for them than you have to; that was the story for the Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Qualifying Series.

The score should sound familiar: New York 2, Florida 1.

They keep it tight, they keep it congested, they keep it low-scoring in coach Barry Trotz’s perfect world.

In this case the Cats helped the Isles by parading to the penalty box early.

Florida captain Sasha Barkov made reference to it in the postgame media availability, pointing out that the penalty kill kept certain players, notably him and his linemates, off the ice in the first period.

Not a great formula, yet Joel Quenneville put a happy twist on it.