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» » For the Lightning, it's try, try again - Albany Times Union

For the Lightning, it's try, try again - Albany Times Union

Jon Cooper might have reacted differently five years ago to losing in double overtime in Tampa Bay's first chance to move on to the Stanley Cup Final, sulking with his head down and kicking the nearest soda can.

That's not his or his team's reaction now.

Sure, the Lightning didn't close out the New York Islanders in five games in the Eastern Conference final as they did against their previous two opponents. But a year after taking the best record in hockey into a first-round sweep by Columbus, this group seems more apt to handle adversity: The Lightning won a five-OT marathon earlier this playoffs and beat the hard-working Islanders in Game 2 with only nine forwards.

"Adversity's kicked us in the butt a ton of times in these playoffs," Cooper said Wednesday. "Adversity hits different ways. This is just another one. This year, I'm really at peace with the way this team is playing. They've got this quiet calm about them, and they'll be all ready."

Tampa Bay still leads the East final 3-2 going into Game 6 Thursday night but could again be without injured leading scorer Brayden Point.

Point's absence makes this the Lightning's toughest adversity yet. They have plenty of talent, but it's impossible to replicate Point's play that has him tied for the postseason scoring lead with nine goals and 16 assists.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save on New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) during overtime in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference final, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
1of6Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save on New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) during overtime in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference final, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)JASON FRANSON
A trainer talks with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) after he was injured by a high stick during the third period against the New York Islanders in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference final, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
2of6A trainer talks with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) after he was injured by a high stick during the third period against the New York Islanders in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference final, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)JASON FRANSON
New York Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle (7) scores on Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the second overtime in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference final, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
3of6New York Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle (7) scores on Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the second overtime in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference final, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)JASON FRANSON
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Yanni Gourde (37) and New York Islanders defenseman Andy Greene (4) crash into the net as Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) looks for the puck during the second overtime in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference final, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
4of6Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Yanni Gourde (37) and New York Islanders defenseman Andy Greene (4) crash into the net as Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) looks for the puck during the second overtime in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference final, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)JASON FRANSON
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 15: Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning checks Devon Toews #25 of the New York Islanders during the third period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 15, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
5of6EDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 15: Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning checks Devon Toews #25 of the New York Islanders during the third period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 15, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)Bruce Bennett
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jordan Eberle #7 of the New York Islanders celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second overtime period to give the Islanders the 2-1 victory in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 15, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
6of6EDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jordan Eberle #7 of the New York Islanders celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second overtime period to give the Islanders the 2-1 victory in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 15, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)Bruce Bennett

Top winger Ondrej Palat said the energy is still up after the double OT loss in Game 5 Tuesday night, and there is good reason for confidence. From goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to defenseman Victor Hedman, Palat, reigning NHL MVP Nikita Kucherov and even Cooper, most of Tampa Bay's core remains from the 2015 run to the final.

'We've been through this before, a lot of us in that room," Hedman said. "It's how you respond to this that's going to define you as a team. I'm not worried about how our group's going to respond to this."

The same can be said across the bubble for the Islanders, whom coach Barry Trotz told before Game 5, "Let's have fun with this."

The 2018 Cup-winning coach got a hearty response from his team facing elimination.

Trotz put it simply: "We have one life left. They have two. You tell me which has more pressure."

Notes: The Buffalo Sabres have acquired veteran center Eric Staal in a trade that sent forward Marcus Johansson to the Minnesota Wild. ... The Seattle Kraken will split their players among several American Hockey League teams for their inaugural 2021-22 season with plans for their own AHL franchise in the Palm Springs area delayed by a year. Oak View Group and the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation announced plans Wednesday to build a sports and entertainment arena in California's Coachella Valley that will be the future home of the Kraken's AHL franchise, but it will not open until the 2022-23 season.

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