Lightning vs. Islanders score: New York gets back in the series with physical Game 3 win

The Islanders avoided an 0-3 series hole

The New York Islanders took their first game of the Eastern Conference Final series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday with a 5-3 win. The Game 3 victory still leaves New York with a 2-1 deficit in the series, but they've now taken a game off of one of the top teams in the East.

New York raced to a 3-1 lead in the second period with goals from Adam Pelech -- which led to a scrap between Anders Lee and Cedric Paquette -- and Anthony Beauvillier creating the initial two-goal lead. But the Lightning reminded their opponents who the superior team was in the regular season, and quickly got the two goals necessary to knot things up with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.

What looked to be the turning point of this game happened with just over three minutes left in the final period. A strong forecheck from the Isles forced a turnover in Tampa Bay's side of the ice. The Lightning looked to be caught napping as New York was able to maneuver through the lackluster defense and get the puck to Brock Nelson, who broke the deadlock to put the Islanders up 4-3.

But the fifth goal the Islanders scored was more characteristic of the game. Just before an empty-netter by Jean-Gabriel Pageu, Nikita Kucherov smacked his stick to the side of the Islanders player's leg, which Pageu took exception to. After the puck went into the back of the net, Pageu and Kucherov went at it, causing a mini scuffle between the two sides. The animosity didn't stop there as right after the subsequent face off, New York's Matt Martin and Tampa's Barclay Goodrow decided to have a fight of their own with less than 30 seconds remaining.

This is all to say that the energy and physicality both teams brought to Friday's game will almost certainly make its way into the Game 4 face off on Sunday.

CBS Sports followed along this game with live updates throughout the night.

[Sep 11, 2020 at 10:46 pm ET · Gabriel Fernandez]

GOAL! Islanders 5, Lightning 3

Jean-Gabriel Pageu scores in the empty net. The Isles player took exception to a hard stick from Kucherov to the side of the knee and a kerfuffle breaks out between both teams on the ice.

[Sep 11, 2020 at 10:38 pm ET · Gabriel Fernandez]

GOAL! Islanders 4, Lightning 3

High pressure from the Islanders gets the puck to the stick of Brock Nelson, who fires to the top shelf to give New York this late lead! (3:20 3rd period)

[Sep 11, 2020 at 10:26 pm ET · Gabriel Fernandez]

The goal is under review. Referees were checking whether the stick was above the crossbar when it was tipped in, and they decided that it was good. Score stands at 3-3.

[Sep 11, 2020 at 10:26 pm ET · Gabriel Fernandez]

GOAL! Lightning 3, Islanders 3

Tampa Bay catches Varlamov napping and Tyler Johnson is able to tip in a high shot into the back of the net! We're all knotted up in the third. (7:56 3rd period)

[Sep 11, 2020 at 10:16 pm ET · Gabriel Fernandez]

The penalty has been killed. Both sides at full strength.

[Sep 11, 2020 at 10:13 pm ET · Gabriel Fernandez]

Hooking call against Ryan McDonagh. Islanders get the power play for two minutes.

[Sep 11, 2020 at 10:09 pm ET · Gabriel Fernandez]

GOAL! Lightning 2, Islanders 3

Ondre Panat brings Tampa Bay within one with a power play goal. (17:28 3rd period)