Despite a 31-22 shot advantage, the Islanders fall 3-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Three.
The effort was there, however the hockey-gods would not cooperate tonight at UBS Arena, as the New York Islanders fell to the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-2.
Despite the boisterous crowd at UBS Arena, Carolina broke the ice first. The 'Canes cycled the puck, until a Martin Necas shot found its way back to Brent Burns at the point. The defenseman’s shot beat Ilya Sorokin through traffic to give Carolina a 1-0 lead at 4:46 of the opening period.
The Islanders kept pushing, outshooting Carolina 9-5 by the frame’s halfway mark, but the Hurricanes scored again shortly after a fantastic diving stop by Frederik Andersen.
Andrei Svechnikov led a break in down the right wing side, passing back to Dmitry Orlov. After getting the puck in the high slot while skating in, Orlov beat Sorokin clean to make it 2-0 at 10:25 of the period.
New York outshot Carolina 15-9 in the period.
Carolina pushed hard to start the second, yet the Islanders were able to withstand the pressure, then cut the deficit in half.
After Adam Pelech dished the puck to Anders Lee in the left corner, he drove to the trapezoid to set up Pierre Engvall in front. Engvall finished the Islanders captain’s pass to make it 2-1 at 2:48 of the period.
However, the one-goal deficit was short lived. After a long stretch of play in the Islander end, Jalen Chatfield outletted to Svechnikov on a breakout, who dished the puck to forward Sebastian Aho. The forward beat Sorokin cleanly to give Carolina a 3-1 lead and end his night between the pipes.
Semyon Varlamov took over in relief of Sorokin, who let up three goals on 14 shots.
sorokin pulled
Carolina continued to push with the fresh goaltender, but Varlamov stood tall and allowed the Islanders to get back within one again. Hudson Fascing won a battle down low and went back to the slot for Ryan Pulock.
After Kyle Palmieri tipped it on the way in, Brock Nelson tapped home the rebound to make it 3-2 at 17:39, a score that stood into the second intermission.
The Hurricanes outshot the Islanders 10-6 in the second period.
In the third period the Islanders had chances, but couldn't get bounces -- or puck-luck to help even the score, and fell, 3-2.
New York held a wide 11-3 shot advantage in the third over Carolina, while finishing the game with a 31-22 shot edge.
Despite the pressure, including with Varlamov pulled late, the Islanders came up short and Carolina will now have a chance to sweep the Islanders when they meet again on Saturday afternoon at UBS Arena