Islanders vs Sabres

Game two of the series was one that caught the attention of 17,908 fans inside the KeyBank Centre. Both teams came out ready at the drop of the puck. Sabres David Backes perhaps too much adrenaline to start as he received a roughing minor
only three and a half minutes into the game. Islanders coach Bruce Cassidy decided to go with the second powerplay unit, and Dustin Brown rewarded him with a goal 15 seconds into the powerplay. That would be the only goal in the opening frame as the Islanders took a 1-0 lead into the intermision. The second started much like the first with a penalty being called very early on. Only 22 seconds in we saw Adam Larsson head to the sin bin for two minutes with a hooking minor. After a great penalty kill, the Isles were able to net a pair of goals two minutes apart from Ryan Dzingel and former Sabre Tomas Tatar. Islanders then showed some sign of undisciplined play resulting in two more minor penalties, first a hooking call on Braydon Coburn followed by an interference call on Paul Stastny. Tyson Barrie was able to score on the second of those powerplays, but the Sabres still found themselves down 3-1 headed into the second intermission. Paul Stastny scored 9 minutes into the third, getting some redemption for his penalty earlier. Chris Kreider of the Sabres was able to net one in the final minutes but it was a little too late to mount a comeback and the Islanders won the game 4-2 to take a two game lead in the series.

Game three was set, and Islanders fans were eager to watch their home team in playoff action. The Islanders Ryan Johansen was able to score once in the first allowing his team to take a 1-0 lead into the break after being outshot 16-7 by the opposing Sabres. This veteran team was well aware how lucky they were to get out of the period damage free, and knew they wouldnt be able to leave Jack Campbell under this kind of pressure for fourty more minutes. The second period was much different, the Islanders were able to slow down play and buckle down defensively. Isalnders' Jordan Eberle and Max Domi were each able to find the net, as was Adam Boqvist of the Sabres, bringing the score to 3-1 for the Islanders. The home team had the upper hand, and were starting to control the game, holding the Sabres to only 6 shots, 10 fewer than the previous period.  In the third it was evident the Sabres were out of gas as the home teams Dustin Brown and Ryan Johansen each scored at 3:22 and 3:37 into the frame putting Buffalo behind by four. The two goals 15 seconds apart prompted Sabres coach Randy Carlysle to get Semyon Varlamov out of the net to preserve energy for game four. Jake Oettinger didnt fair much better as Islanders' Ryan Dzingel scored 3 minutes later, and Ryan Johansen scored with minutes remaining for the hat trick, book ending the night. Islanders won 7-1 as Jack Campbell stopped 30 of 31 shots, and would now take a 3-0 series lead into game 4. 

Game four and Islanders fans were looking for the sweep and a ticket to the second round. The visiting Sabres however were determined to get back into the series. The game got underway, and in his first shift Troy Terry put his Sabres short handed with a slashing minor.  The Sabres killed the penalty successfully and were able to get their game back on track. Sammy Blais opened up the scoring halfway into the first, and 5min into the second Oliver Wahlstrom put Buffalo up by two. The game was far from over though, and the Islanders' Cal Clutterbuck and Tomas Tatar both scored before the end of the period to tie the game up. 
Neither team was able to score in the third frame sending the game into overtime and with that the Sabres season was going to be determined by the next goal. Overtime started and home fans were gripping their brooms tight, but then 7 minutes into overtime Sabres' Joel Farabee spoiled the sweep and earned his team a game 5 back in Buffalo.

Game five was another chance for the Islanders to punch their ticket for the second round, however this time was going to be on the road and Sabres fans were pumped after the overtime win a few nights prior. In the first period the Islanders gave Jake Oettinger a workout but weren't able to get anything by the young netminder. It was 20min of back and forth action that saw no goals or penalties with the Isalnders outshooting the home team 16-9. In the second Islander Tatar was able to open the scoring with his third of the series, making you wonder if the Sabres' GM was starting to regret giving the Islanders a 3rd rd pick to take the veteran and his hefty contract. Almost 5min later Sabres' Ryan Ellis knotted it up at one and once again the home team fans were on their feet with the hopes of pushing this series to a game six. Then with only 3 seconds left in the period Islanders' Dustin Brown found the back of the net and the Islanders went into the intermision up one. The third saw a valiante effort by the Sabres, but the Islanders veterans were able to hold on and with the game all but over New York's Max Domi scored on an empty net putting an end to the Sabres' season and the series.