3 Takeaways: Islanders Fall 5-3 in Game 2 Loss to Hurricanes

The New York Islanders could only weather the Carolina Hurricanes storm for so long on Monday night, as a 3-0 lead turned into a 5-3 loss at PNC Arena in Game 2 of their First Round series.

As a result, the Islanders trail the best-of-seven Eastern Conference First Round series 2-0, heading back to Long Island for Game 3 on Thursday.

Kyle Palmieri, Bo Horvat and Anders Lee (PPG) built a 3-0 lead for the Isles by the 3:54 mark of the second period, but the Hurricanes scored five unanswered goals in their comeback win. Teuvo Teravainen, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, Jordan Martinook and Jake Guentzel scored for the Hurricanes, who netted four third period goals, including the game-tying and game-winning goals nine seconds apart.

“It's a tough loss, no doubt about it,” Head Coach Patrick Roy said. “We had a chance to win that game, but at the same time, we have to regroup and be ready for the next game.”

It was a bitter defeat for the Islanders, who also saw a three-goal lead slip away against the Hurricanes in their first meeting on Nov. 4. The Islanders are 3-11 in their franchise history when down 2-0 in a series, including 3-10 when starting the series on the road.

Semyon Varlamov stopped 34 of 38 in the loss, while Frederik Andersen – starting consecutive games for the first time since returning from a blood clot – stopped 9 of 12 in the win.

ISLES CAN’T WEATHER THE STORM:

The shot advantage told the story of Monday’s game, as the Hurricanes outshot the Islanders 39-12 in the game.

The attempts favored the Hurricanes 110-28, and the game wound up being a series of stretches where Carolina poured it on and the Islanders looked to hang on in the defensive zone.

They escaped a few near misses in the second period, where Carolina clanked a post and a crossbar, but it caught up with them during a third period siege where they were outshot 17-1 by a hungry Hurricanes team. Seth Jarvis, who was demoted off Carolina’s top line, made it 3-2 at the 10:43 mark, beating Varlamov high short side. Kyle MacLean’s would be insurance goal was immediately – and rightly – called back due to a high stick and the Canes’ pressure culminated with two goals in nine seconds to turn the game.

Sebastian Aho tied the score at the 17:54 mark, going to the far post to deflect an Andrei Svechnikov shot with the extra attacker. Roy said he considered using his time out there to calm his group, but instead the Hurricanes won the face-off into the offensive zone and got on the forecheck, with Jordan Martinook knocking Noah Dobson off the puck behind the net and quickly tucking in a wraparound with Varlamov looking the other way. Guentzel’s empty-netter at 19:04 put the game away. The three goals in 1:19 were the fastest three playoff goals given up in Isles history.

“We can't just hold on and play in our end for two periods and just hope that we'll find a way,” Dobson said. “We have to have a push back and obviously we weren't good enough tonight.”

SHOTS DRY UP IN SECOND HALF:

If there was a positive on the offensive side of the puck, it’s that the Islanders were able to make the most of their opportunities. Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee both converted chances alone in front with two Hurricanes below the goal line, while Bo Horvat buried a Mathew Barzal feed with a one-timer, one of three high-quality chances for the center.

The issue for the Islanders was just generating too few chances on Monday, as their 12 shots on goal marked the second fewest in a playoff game in the franchise’s history, with only Game 7 against Washington yielding fewer.

The Islanders didn’t record their first shot until 13:32 of the first period, but led 2-0 after one thanks to goals by Palmieri and Horvat. Anders Lee put the Isles up 3-0 with a power-play goal, but New York didn’t generate a shot on goal after the 5:03 mark for the rest of the period.

Shot and chance creation was especially an issue in the back half of the game, as the Islanders only generated one shot in the final 34:57. That went hand-in-hand with being hemmed in their own zone by the Canes for the long stretches and unable to get any time, or rhythm in the offensive zone.

“Carolina is known for that sustained pressure and compared to the other night they had it more tonight,” Lee said. “We weren't able to break it and spend time in their zone and that's kind of a result of that.”

“THIS ONE HURTS THE GUT”

There was no doubt Monday’s loss stung, with the Islanders still processing what had happened in the immediate aftermath.

“This one hurts the gut,” Lee said in his postgame availability.

The Islanders now have two days to digest the loss and prepare for Game 3, the first game of the series to be played on Long Island. That cuts both ways, as Lee said the Islanders are antsy to get back on the ice and make amends.

“I think we'd all rather get back at it, but we'll take two days using to our advantage,” Lee said. “Let’s get home, get in front of our fans and let them give us some more juice. This thing's long from over.”

JG Pageau, who picked up an assist in his return to the lineup after missing Game 1, said all the Isles can do is look forward.

“What makes the strength of this group is character, bounce back,” Pageau said. “We're going back home, the next game is the most important.”

NEXT GAME:

The series shifts to Long Island for Game 3 on Thursday night. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.