The Carolina Hurricanes left the New York Islanders reeling on Monday night, orchestrating a remarkable turnaround with two quick goals in the third period, securing a 5-3 victory and taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Round 1 series.
“This one stings,” lamented Islanders captain Anders Lee following the unexpected defeat in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The game-changing sequence unfolded when Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho redirected a pass from Andrei Svechnikov into the net, knotting the score at 3-3 with just 2:15 remaining in regulation.
Moments later, Jordan Martinook capitalized on a turnover by Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson, burying the puck past goalie Semyon Varlamov to give Carolina a stunning lead a mere nine seconds after Aho’s equalizer.
Carolina’s head coach Rod Brind’Amour commended his team’s resilience, stating, “When you’re down three, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime type of game. I’m just proud of the way they kept playing.”
The Hurricanes’ swift goals set a new NHL record for the fastest game-tying and winning goals scored in the third period of a playoff game. This historic feat underscores Carolina’s determination and ability to seize critical moments in the game.
Reflecting on the loss, Islanders coach Patrick Roy highlighted the team’s lapse in 1-on-1 battles, which allowed the Hurricanes to dominate possession, particularly in the third period.
Despite the setback, the Islanders remain determined to bounce back in Game 3 at UBS Arena on Long Island. “It’s a tough loss, no doubt about it,” acknowledged Roy. “But we’ve got to regroup, play well in our building, and win game number three.”
However, the Hurricanes may face challenges of their own as defenseman Brett Pesce sustained a lower-body injury during the game, casting uncertainty over his availability for the upcoming matchups.
As the series intensifies, both teams are poised for a fierce battle as they vie for supremacy in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
