Islanders Stop Panthers In Double Overtime

     The New York Islanders topped the Florida Panthers 2-1 during double overtime in Game 5 of the first round series at BB&T Center on Friday night. The Cats are down 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and can be eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday in Brooklyn.
     In the first period, New York scored the initial goal of a game for the first time in the series at 13:31. Thomas Hickey was in the slot area when he released a wrist shot which was saved by Roberto Luongo. Frans Nielsen pushed in the rebound from the top of the crease for his third goal of the playoffs and a 1-0 lead.
     Florida waited until 1:59 into the third period to tie the contest 1-1. Aleksander Barkov dropped a pass to Alex Petrovic at the top of the zone. He skated to the right wing and connected a cross-ice pass to the low slot where Barkov put in a snap shot by Thomas Greiss for his second goal of the series.
     The game went into overtime and the Panthers were rewarded a penalty shot at 7:19 when an Islanders player closed his hand on the puck in the blue paint. Barkov took the attempt, skated upon the net and had his backhand shot stopped.
     It moved to double overtime and the Islanders picked up two power-play opportunities in the period. They missed on the first with no shot on goal, however they got the victory on the second power play. Marek Zidlicky passed the puck from the blue line to Alan Quine above the top right circle and he blasted in a slapshot for the game-winning goal at the 16-minute mark.