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Plumtree reflects on performance of Sharks fringe men in loss to Cardiff
Blue Jackets, Islanders complete Stanley Cup sweeps
The Tampa Bay Lightning were sent crashing out of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Tuesday as the Columbus Blue Jackets completed a stunning first round clean sweep with a 7-3 victory in Ohio.
. GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/Kirk Irwin
The Lightning entered the playoffs as proud owners of the Presidents’ Trophy, the honour handed to the NHL franchise which finishes the regular season with the best record.
But the Florida outfit became only the third Presidents’ Trophy winning team to suffer a clean sweep in the postseason as Columbus completed a 4-0 series win a the Nationwide Arena.
Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and two assists while Alexandre Texier scored twice for Columbus, who will play either the Boston Bruins or the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round.
The Lightning meanwhile were left reflecting on an abrupt end to a campaign which had promised so much after a regular-season which saw them accumulate a record-equalling 62 wins.
Elsewhere Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins were shut down once again by the New York Islanders, losing 3-1 to bow out of the playoffs at the first hurdle with a 4-0 sweep.
The Pens, back-to-back Stanley Cup champions in 2016 and 2017, were comprehensively beaten as the Islanders swept a best-of-seven series for the first time since 1983.
“We wanted to play a certain way,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “We talked about culture and identity. We tried to create that with what we felt we had.
“We didn’t know a lot about our goaltending. We didn’t know a lot about our defense. … Getting everybody to play for each other is a hard thing. “Understanding that you just do your job, do it well, do it for the guy next to you.”
Jordan Eberle was the catalyst for the Isles, scoring for the fourth straight game to tie it at 1-1 in the first period shortly after Jake Guentzel had put Pittsburgh ahead.
Brock Nelson put the Isles 2-1 ahead in the 1st period before Josh Bailey made it 3-1 in the second. Robin Lehner made 32 saves for New York.
Penguins star Sidney Crosby was unable to mask his disappointment after the loss.
“It’s obviously frustrating,” Crosby said. “I haven’t had a lot of time to digest it. Just disappointing. I think we felt good about our game coming into the playoffs and were playing some good hockey.
“And then got off to a rough start, but still felt like we had a chance here coming home.”
