Nelson, Varlamov help Islanders beat Lightning in Game 3
EDMONTON, Alberta – Coach Barry Trotz never questioned his New York Islanders’ resolve.
Brock Nelson broke a tie with 3:25 left, Semyon Varlamov made 34 saves and the Islanders the kept the Tampa Bay Lightning from taking a three-game lead in the NHL’s Eastern Conference final with a 5-3 victory in Game 3.
Blown out in the series opener and facing the prospect falling down 3-0 after a stunning finish to Game 2 and squandering a two-goal lead Friday night, Nelson scored off a pass from Anthony Beauvillier following a Lightning turnover to put New York up for good.
“This is our fourth
The back-and-forth started from the jump. Boston quickly put together what became a 13-0 run on the way to an early 19-7 edge. Toronto ripped off 10 straight to lead after the first quarter. Boston then went on a 15-2 spurt to reclaim the lead and the Celtics ended up taking a 50-46 lead into the break.
And the fight never stopped. In the third, Boston pushed the lead to nine. Toronto scored the next eight and eventually took the lead before the Celtics claimed it back – for good.
Boston led 72-71 going into the fourth, making this the 21st Game 7 in NBA history where the margin was zero or one going into the final 12 minutes. And this time, the Raptors didn’t have the final answer.
“They gave everything
they had,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “Special team.”
TIP-INS
Celtics: Boston became the first team in NBA history to win four “road” games in one playoff series. ... Gordon Hayward (sprained right ankle) was on the floor getting shots up before the game. He hasn’t played since Game 1 of the opening-round series against Philadelphia. The Celtics had said he would need four weeks before recovering; Tuesday is the four-week mark.
Raptors: Because of the pandemic-delayed season, Toronto was eliminated 456 days after winning the previous title, the longest such run for a team that didn’t win consecutive championships. ... The Raptors are scheduled to fly home Saturday afternoon.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Celtics went 2-1
against Miami in the regular season, winning 112-93 on Dec. 4 in Boston and 109101 at Miami on Jan. 28. The Heat won the lone bubble matchup between the clubs, prevailing 112-106 on Aug. 4.
RARE MATCHUP
This will be the first time neither the No. 1 nor No. 2 seed in the East will make the conference finals since the NBA went to the 16-team playoff format in 1984; this one will feature No. 3 Boston and No. 5 Miami.
There have been similar matchups in the West since the league went to this format. No. 3 Dallas beat No. 4 Oklahoma City in 2011, No. 3 San Antonio beat No. 4 Utah in 2007 and No. 3 Portland beat No. 5 Phoenix in 1990.
The last time something like this happened in the East was 1969, when No. 4 Boston beat No. 3 New York in what was then the Eastern Division finals.