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Hurricanes 5 (EN), Islanders 3: Decent comeback, indecent ending
- Story by
- Hurricanes 5 (EN), Islanders 3: Decent comeback, indecent ending
Strange threads | NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders overcame a horrible start to make it a game, a winnable game even, against the defending Cup champion Hurricanes, but in the end mistakes killed them on the way to a loss
The Islanders hadn't been in action for five days and looked it when the Canes pounced to a 2-0 lead in the first 3:20. They steadily got their bearings and though they hit the first intermission still trailing by two, they got two quick ones to make it a game again in the first six minutes of the second.
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After trading goals once more, things looked possibly headed to overtime until William Carrier outmuscled J-G Pageau for a rebound to score the winner with 5:08 to go.
NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick ]
Varly:Semyon Varlamov had a solid game facing Carolina's trademark shot barrage, stopping 34. With Varly pulled for a sixth attacker, the Islanders had a decent chance to get set up but the refs errantly whistled play down for what they thought was too many men. Though the refs mitigated the error by not calling a penalty, that added to the frustration the Isles felt for the refs and the setting on through the final horn.
6-on-5:With Varlamov pulled, Jordan Martinook lost a stick but the Isles let an even better opportunity slip away as the bouncing puck eluded Brayden Schenn, who was checked out of the play by the stickless Martinook, while Jalen Chatfield chopped the puck the length of the rink and into the empty net.
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Special teams:The Islanders' power play was its usual mess on its four missed opportunities, but the penalty kill held up its end. Neither Brayden Schenn (who had a nice wraparound goal) nor Adam Pelech liked their tacky yet justifiable penalty calls, but their kill of Pelech's penalty late in the second and at the beginning of the third — right after Victor Eklund tied the game at 3-3 — was huge.
The difference:At least, of course, until Carrier's goal made it moot. Varlamov gloved the point shot through traffic, but Pageau was slow to react in a stick battle with Carrier, who beat Pageau and then Varlamov for his first of the season.
On balance, with the mistakes the Isles made, a regulation loss was the deserved result. But it stings more since the Isles erased their bad start and hung with the champs all game.
Up Next
After that bizarre November layoff in an 84-game season, the Islanders host the streaking Devils on Saturday before hitting the road for the California triangle.
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Roster notes:Will Ben Hutton make an appearance? The Isles announced his signing before the game, though he did not play. They did not need all 10 days of the PTO to decide he needs to figure in their blueline depth.
