Returning to home ice after splitting the weekend on Long Island, the Canes came into the night with a chance to end the series.
Turning to Antti Raanta in net for a fifth consecutive game, it was an unfortunately familiar story for "Father Finn" and the home side after 20 minutes of play. Carolina was undisputedly the better team, but New York had the only goal on the board.
A miscue in the Canes' defensive end allowed Islanders forward Pierre Engvall to wind up all alone in front of Raanta, giving the Islanders their first lead after one period of play in 24 playoff games.
The lead almost was not though, as Stefan Noesen did find the back of the net for Carolina late in the first on a power play. But, a successful offside challenge by Isles head coach Lane Lambert sent the game to the middle 20 with its 1-0 score.
In the second, the visitors doubled their lead by way of a series of unfortunate events for the Metropolitan Division champions. A shot from the high slot by New York was going wide, but hit Sebastian Aho in the face, leaving a rebound for Brock Nelson to swat home out of mid-air. To add insult to injury, Aho needed to head down the tunnel with the Canes' medical staff, missing a few minutes of action.
Combine the above incident with a pair of hit posts, the overturned goal, and a broken stick on a quality chance for Martin Necas, and it just started to feel like it wasn't Carolina's night.
However, they'd change that narrative, at least momentarily.
A Jalen Chatfield shot from the point was redirected in front by Paul Stastny, bringing Carolina within one and reigniting the PNC Arena crowd.
