The New York Islanders had chances to take a lead in a strong second period. But after failing to capitalize in the middle frame, the Hurricanes took a 3-1 lead in the third period and held on to win Game 1.
RALEIGH, NC -- The New York Islanders had chances to take a lead after a strong second period. But after failing to capitalize in the middle frame, the Hurricanes took a 3-1 lead in the third period and held on to win Game 1.
Here's how it happened:
Hurricanes center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) is congratulated by right wing Stefan Noesen (23) and right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) after his goal against the New York Islanders during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena.The biggest key to this series for the Islanders was to stay out of the penalty box but 1:22 in the game, Anders Lee made his way to the sin bin after he "held" Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei.
It was a weak call, but the league's second-worst penalty kill still had a job to do.
They failed at the job as after Adam Pelech turned the puck over, Canes trade-deadline acquisition Evgeny Kuznetsov beat Varlamov through a screen 12 seconds into the man advantage to give Carolina an early 1-0 lead:
A little under seven minutes later, rookie Kyle MacLean tied the score at 1-1 after he fought for a loose puck in the crease at 8:20 of the first.
Alexander Romanov's point shot was deflected by Anders Lee, and Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen couldn't corral it before MacLean found it:
That was MacLean's first career playoff goal in his first career playoff game on his first career playoff shot in the arena where his father, Islanders power-play coach John MacLean, served as an assistant from 2011-2014.
At the 5:29 mark of the second period, Simon Holmstrom tried to clear the Islanders' zone. Although the puck may have been on its way out, Matt Martin wacked at it, sending it over the glass for a delay-of-game penalty.
Unlike in the first, the Islanders got a huge kill to keep the game tied, with Ryan Pulock and Casey Cizikas blocking shots.
The second period was scoreless, but what stood out was the Islanders' shutdown defense. They held the Hurricanes to just five shots, with 13 of their own, and headed to the third up 21-12 in shots.
Early in the third period, Noah Dobson beat a falling Andersen, but the shot hit the post. The rebound came back to Dobson, but Andersen dove with the glove to keep the game tied.
The Hurricanes took a 2-1 lead at 3:43 of the third after Stefan Noesen scored from right in front of Semyon Varlamov on the backhand after a Brady Skjei point shot:
The Islanders had a chance on the power play at 11:28 of the third after Noesen got called for roughing Mike Reilly.
Kyle Palmieri saw the puck loose along the blocker-side post and scooped it up, but his wrap chance hit off the opposite post.
The Hurricanes were able to kill the Noesen penalty off and with the Islanders power play clock hitting zero, Palmieri took a slashing penalty at 13:28.
The Islanders were rather strong on the kill, for the second straight time to remain down just 2-1.
The Hurricanes sealed the deal with an empty net goal by Martin Necas with 1:32 remaining.
UP NEXT: The Islanders battle the Hurricanes for Game 2 on Monday at 7:30 PM.
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