NHL-Lightning blank Islanders to reach conference finals

May 8 (The Sports Xchange) - Victor Hedman scored two goals and Ben Bishop recorded his fifth career playoffs shutout as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the visiting New York Islanders 4-0 on Sunday to advance to the NHL's Eastern Conference finals. The Game Five victory gave Tampa Bay their second-round, best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoffs series by 4-1 and will next meet either the Washington Capitals or Pittsburgh Penguins. Bishop made 28 saves while Nikita Kucherov had his ninth goal of the postseason as the Lightning advanced to the conference finals for the second consecutive year. Hedman gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead at 13:49 of the first period. He took control of a loose puck at the high slot and beat Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss on the near post. Lightning center Brian Boyle scored his third goal of the postseason at 18:41 in the first period to make the score 2-0. Defenseman Matt Carle went behind the net and passed the puck to Boyle in the slot and Boyle snapped a shot past Greiss above his shoulder. Hedman's second goal came on a Lightning power play at 4:22 in the second period. Jonathan Drouin made a backhand pass that banked off the boards and Hedman scored on a one-timer from the right circle to make the score 3-0. Kucherov capped the scoring with a goal at 4:40 of the third period on a breakaway. Greiss made 21 saves for the Islanders. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))