The Islanders were more or less able to adjust to their opponents and prevailed in the fifth match of the series with a score of 2:1 in overtime. Of course, Braden Point’s injury had a positive effect for the Islanders and therefore it was much easier for them to stop the Lightning attack than before. However, at the same time, Semyon Varlamov showed himself again from his best side and reflected a total of 36 shots at his goal. In general, it should be noted that Barry Troz’s wards realized in the last meeting almost all chances that they created in the opponent’s zone and in total strained the goalkeeper only 24 times. Yes, the team is still having problems creating danger on Vasilevsky’s patch and there is no getting around it.
Some 4-5 years ago Stoke City played in the Premier League. Today the team can only remember these times with warmth, vegetating in the middle of the standings in the Championship. So last season the potters finished only in 15-th place, gaining 56 points in 46 matches. Mike ONeil’s wards started the new championship with an away draw against Millwall (0:0). This result allowed them to extend their unbeaten streak in the Championship up to 5 fights (3 wins and 2 world outcomes). 4 out of 5 fights ended with under 2.5 total. In the League Cup “Potters” went through Blackpool (0:0), having won only in a penalty shootout. In the last rally of this tournament the team reached the 1/16 finals, where in the main time they parted with Crowley Town (1:1), but were defeated in a penalty shootout.
