TAMPA, Fla. — They were outshot and had trouble controlling the puck.
They blew an early lead in the first period and almost blew a two-goal lead in the third. There were moments Saturday night when the Lightning looked like a poor imitation of the team that has won more games than any NHL franchise in the past decade.
And yet, when the final horn sounded, Tampa Bay had survived, 5-3, against the New York Islanders to get back to .500 after losing three of their first four games to open the season.
