rtainty. Still, I am more or less certain that the Cubs

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning used the power play to extend their recent dominance over the New York Islanders.Steven Stamkos had a goal and two assists, Andrei Vasilevskiy made 31 saves and the Lightning beat the Islanders 4-1 on Thursday night.The Lightning went 2 for 6 on the power play, and New York failed to score on its one chance.The power play helped us out, kick-started it, Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said.Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Brian Boyle also scored for the Lightning, who have outscored the Islanders 10-2 in winning the first two games of the season series.Tampa Bay also beat the Islanders in five games during the second round of last seasons playoffs.Theyre a good hockey team, New York center John Tavares said. We just havent played to a level that we need to have success against them.The Islanders got a goal from Andrew Ladd.Stamkos opened the scoring by beating Jaroslav Halak from the left circle on a power play 8:03 into the game. The star center has 111 career power-play goals with Tampa Bay, one shy of Vincent Lecavaliers team record.It was just the fifth time in 14 games that the Lightning scored first.Thats something weve discussed, Stamkos said. For sure, weve got to start games better.New York was called for all three penalties in the first period, on undisciplined infractions for elbowing, cross-checking and high-sticking.You have to work as a unit of five, and at the end of the day you just have to find a way to do it, Islanders coach Jack Capuano said of New Yorks 25th-ranked short-handed success rate.Kucherov also scored from the left circle 3 minutes after Stamkos goal to make it 2-0. Victor Hedman got his 188th career assist to become the franchise leader for defensemen.Halak was pulled and replaced by Thomas Greiss 2:50 into the second after Johnson scored from the left circle on Tampa Bays fourth power play. Halak allowed three goals on 16 shots.Theres no secret, Tavares said. The amount of penalties we take, its really putting us in a tough spot.Shortly after Vasilevskiy made a strong save on Casey Cizikas during a 4-on-1, Ladd pulled New York to 3-1 midway through the second.Boyle scored early in the third.Game notesThe Islanders host Tampa Bay on Monday night to complete the three-game season series in a 14-game span. ... Stamkos has 13 goals and 29 points in 27 games against the Islanders. ... Tampa Bay LW Jonathan Drouin missed his fourth straight game after taking a hit to the head Nov. 1 from Islanders D Calvin de Haan. ... The Islanders returned forward Mathew Barzal to Seattle of the WHL.UP NEXTIslanders: Wrap up a two-game southern swing Saturday night at Florida.Lightning: Complete a two-game homestand Saturday night against San Jose.Fake Jordan Shoes . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Fake Nike Shoes .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. https://www.fakeshoesonline.com/ .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. China Shoes For Sale . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Fake Shoes Discount . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs have the best defense in baseball. It might be the best team defense weve seen in some time -- quite some time.Historically, so much of defensive evaluation has been anecdotal and, therefore, inconclusive. Even now, with rivers of data flowing into our collective hardball consciousness, we havent reached the point where we can make specific judgments about defense with any real certainty. Still, I am more or less certain that the Cubs are playing unusually special defense.Just through a natural progression, maturity-wise, some guys have just gotten better, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. Because theyre good. Were making the rroutine play routinely.dddddddddddd Weve made some pretty spectacular plays all over the field.The anecdotal evidence of those is all over the place, and the evidence mounts with each game. The Cubs have young, elite, versatile athletes everywhere on the field, even behind the plate, now that rookie Willson Contreras is getting more of a workload. They can run, they have excellent instincts and terrific technique, and they are usually well-positioned by the Cubs coaching staff. They make plays both routine and spectacular. ' ' '