Five keys for the Islanders-Panthers playoff series

• Thomas Greiss, on the other hand, has all of 40 minutes playoff experience in his NHL career. He’s been an extremely surprising and reliable performer for the Islanders this season, but Greiss will have to take his play to a new level starting Thursday.” data-id=”111679813″ data-link=”https://amnewyork.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/8829_image.jpg” class=”wp-image-1.11679813″/>

• The Panthers, on the other hand, are the only team to qualify for the postseason with both special teams units ranked in the bottom third of the NHL (PP was 23rd, PK was 24th). The Islanders know full well what special teams can do in the playoffs, given their 0-fer on the power play in last spring’s Capitals series. Any edge they can gain with the man advantage could be big this time around.” data-id=”111679830″ data-link=”https://amnewyork.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/8830_image.jpg” class=”wp-image-1.11679830″/>

• The Isles have some key young fellas as well, led by Ryan Strome and Brock Nelson. The advantage those two have over Florida’s young core is that Strome and Nelson have been through the playoff wars a year ago and need to use that experience to keep their composure.

  Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech could figure in the defensive rotation and either one would be making his playoff debut.” data-id=”111679844″ data-link=”https://amnewyork.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/8831_image.jpg” class=”wp-image-1.11679844″/>

• Jaromir Jagr is 43 years old and hardly the all-around force he once was. But he still makes his young Panthers counterparts go. Jagr hasn’t been to the postseason since 2013 and even playing with a Bruins team that reached the Final, he ran out of gas. The Isles have to keep the old boy in check.” data-id=”111679846″ data-link=”https://amnewyork.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/8832_image.jpg” class=”wp-image-1.11679846″/>

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If this is indeed the first-round matchup the Islanders wanted, the Panthers have the talent to pose more than a few problems for the Isles.

That was proven in the three regular-season meetings between the two clubs, including a Dec. 15 drubbing at Barclays Center. That 5-1 loss to the Panthers was a bit misleading, since former Islander Roberto Luongo played exceptionally well and the Panthers scored five times on 17 shots, but that game showed the Isles that Florida is ready for prime time.

“We’ve had quite a bit of trouble with them this season,” Jack Capuano said. “We know what they can do.”

While the two teams ended up separated by only three points in the final standings, the Islanders’ inconsistency has to be ironed out against a young, speedy Panthers team that has a few old goats in the right places.

Here are five key areas to watch when the puck drops on Thursday in Sunrise, Florida: