Late Goal Lifts Bolts

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning have followed a blowout win with a nail-biter to take a two-games-to-none lead over the New York Islanders in the NHL’s Eastern Conference final.

Nikita Kucherov scored with 8.8 seconds left to lift the Bolts past the Isles, 2-1. The Lightning had two quality chances that were stopped by Semyon Varlamov seconds before Kucherov fired the puck into the net.

Matt Martin put the Isles ahead just 1:24 into the game. Martin has five playoff goals after scoring just five the entire regular season.

Victor Hedman tied it late in the first period for the Lightning, who were outshot 28-21.

Andrei Vasilevskiy was superb at times and helped Tampa Bay kill off a five-minute major and a 5-on-3 situation.

Game 3 is Friday.