Hurricanes top Islanders for fifth straight win, remain undefeated

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Islanders 5-2 at PNC Arena on Friday to improve to 5-0-0, the best start in franchise history.

Dougie Hamilton and Andrei Svechnikov each had a goal and an assist for Carolina, and Teuvo Teravainen scored to extend his point streak to five games.
"The 5-0-0] is kind of irrelevant," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "We're trying to win the day, and that's the mentality of these guys. We need that to continue. That's what we're trying to sell here, and so far they're buying into it."
***[WATCH: [All Islanders vs. Hurricanes highlights]*
The five wins are one more than the Hartford Whalers had to start the 1995-96 season, their next to last before the franchise relocated to North Carolina.
"Our work ethic is pretty high every day," Teravainen said. "We want to play for ourselves and play for the fans. We just want to leave everything out there."
Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist, and Johnny Boychuk scored for the Islanders (1-3-0). Thomas Greiss made 35 saves.
"Their speed gives everybody trouble," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "Their D gets up on it and pressure, pressure, pressure. Because of their pressure and their four lines, you've got to make quick plays, plain and simple."
Teravainen gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead when he tapped in Hamilton's feed past sliding defenseman Ryan Pulock on a 2-on-1 at 3:57. Teravainen has two goals and four assists during his point streak.

"I was shooting the whole way, but then you've got to pass when it's that easy," Hamilton said. "Good play by everyone all around."
Nelson scored eight seconds into an Islanders power play to tie the game 1-1 at 8:36. Anthony Beauvillier took a pass from Jordan Eberle and set up Nelson at the top of the crease for a tap-in.
Brett Pesce scored with a wrist shot to the short side from the bottom of the left face-off circle off a pass from Svechnikov to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead at 14:42.
"I saw they were kind of scrambled, their forwards," Pesce said. "I saw [Svechnikov] had the puck. Obviously, he made a great play, and I found the net."

Boychuk scored with a one-timer from the right point on the power play to tie it 2-2 at 1:53 of the second.
Erik Haula worked the puck out of the right corner and scored on his own rebound to give Carolina a 3-2 lead at 15:09.
"I was just grinding down low and saw a chance to get to the net," said Haula, who has scored in four of his first five games with the Hurricanes. "I got a second chance and the puck went in. It's nice to play with the lead and have it going into the third."
Hamilton made it 4-2 on a one-timer through a screen from above the right circle with 59 seconds left in the second.
Svechnikov scored into an empty net with 50 seconds remaining to make it 5-2.
Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek made 17 saves.

They said it

"I think it's important that you take away some of that middle space and time and try to keep them to the outside. There were times tonight when they got that extra guy up there, and they were able to find him." -- Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock
"[Erik Haula] is playing really hard, and it's maybe surprising that he's the two-way player that he is. He's really digging in on both ends of the rink, which is what we love. He's getting results right now. He's getting rewarded for the level of play. He's been great from Day One." -- Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour

Need to know

Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy and forward Casey Cizikas each missed the game with an undisclosed injury. ... The Islanders' 19 shots were their fewest of the season. ... Hamilton's seven points (three goals, four assists) are tied for the most in franchise history through the first five games in a season (Mark Howe, 1980-81; Risto Siltanen, 1982-83 and 1984-85). ... Hurricanes forward Julien Gauthier, selected in the first round (No. 21) of the 2016 NHL Draft, played 8:23 in his NHL debut. ... Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin had an assist on Hamilton's goal to extend his point streak to four games (two goals, two assists). ... Hurricanes forward Nino Niederreiter had two assists and has three in the past two games after being held without a point the first three of the season.

What's next

Islanders: Host the Florida Panthers on Saturday (Nassau Coliseum; 7 p.m. ET; MSG+, FS-F, NHL.TV)
Hurricanes: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; FS-CR, FS-O, NHL.TV)