Hurricanes lose to Islanders, fail to pad Metropolitan Division lead

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Kyle Palmieri scored with 15 seconds remaining in the third period to lift the New York Islanders to a 2-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Friday.

Palmieri circled the net and held off Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei before scoring inside the right post from low in the left face-off circle.
"What a goal by 'Palms,'" Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "I thought it was a very fast game. It was a hard game for both teams. Those are just fun games."
New York forward Zach Parise won a puck battle behind the net before Palmieri skated around the net with only his right hand on the stick.
"A pretty big wave of emotions, for sure," Islanders forward Matt Martin said. "What a goal, the body control by 'Palms.' It's hard to do. Really nice goal, really big goal and I'm happy for him."

Vincent Trocheck tied it 1-1 with 57 seconds remaining with the Carolina net empty and the extra attacker.
"It hurts whenever you get one back late and they score," Trocheck said. "But it starts at the beginning of the game. We've got to start better. I don't know what it is, but if we get off to a better start in the first period and we get out to a lead, it's a different game."
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored, and Palmieri had an assist for the Islanders (33-28-9), who have won five of six. Ilya Sorokin made 20 saves after missing five games with an upper-body injury.
Frederik Andersen made 19 saves for the Hurricanes (46-18-8), who have lost three of four and remain two points ahead of the New York Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Carolina clinched a berth in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 5-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday and was playing its third game in four days.
"We were really gassed," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "There was no energy in our legs, so we had no speed to get in and get on them. [The Islanders] did a nice job with a lot of blocked shots and did that kind of thing to keep us away from getting any real traction after the first period."
The Islanders took a 1-0 lead at 8:24 of the second period after Palmieri forced a turnover behind the net and Martin fed Pageau alone near the top of the crease. It was Pageau's fifth goal in three games.
"'Marty,' we all know more of his physical game, but I think his skill is very underrated," Pageau said. "He made a really good pass there. He was very composed with the puck, patient to wait for the lane to open. He made me a perfect pass. All I had to do was put it in."

The Hurricanes had one shot on goal in the second period and eight in the third.
"We did a really good job of getting the puck in the neutral zone, making them regroup," Parise said. "We clogged up the neutral zone well. We were able to sustain some offensive-zone time of our own and keep them away from our net."
NOTES:Carolina defenseman Brendan Smith (undisclosed) left the game early in the third period after a hit by New York forward Casey Cizikas. Brind'Amour did not have an update. … Hurricanes defenseman Ethan Bear was minus-1 with two hits in 10:58 of ice time after missing six games with a lower-body injury. … Carolina last had one shot on goal in a period Jan. 10, 2020, during the third period of a 3-0 win against the Arizona Coyotes. … The Hurricanes and Islanders each went 0-for-4 on the power play. … Trotz coached his 1,800th NHL game, second to Scotty Bowman (2,141). Trotz is 910-663-167 with 60 ties.