Islanders focus on Game 7 of Semifinals after stirring win vs. Lightning

The Islanders need another victory to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1984 and end the Lightning’s bid to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

“We know what’s at stake.

“You play all year to get to this point and you get one opportunity, so it will be there,” Trotz said.

That approach has served the Islanders well throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping them come from behind against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins in the first two rounds and getting them to Game 7 against the Lightning after they trailed 2-1 and 3-2 in the series.

New York has come from behind in seven of their 11 wins in these playoffs.

If you get down a couple in a game, what can you really do but just continue to be yourself and really just keep going, and if you get it you get, if you don’t you don’t.

Trotz has spoken often about how momentum doesn’t carry over from game to game in the playoffs, but confidence does.

“I think you’re going to have two focused teams, Game 7, with a chance to go to the Stanley Cup,” Trotz said.

The Islanders have a positive Game 7 experience to lean upon from a 4-0 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round last season.

“I think for myself and the team, you don’t really think of it necessarily as a Game 7,” Pulock said.

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