After two one-goal losses on the road, the Islanders beat the Carolina Hurricanes with a record-setting scoring outburst after a late goal.
Kyle Palmieri and Matt Martin scored 44 seconds apart late in the third period as the Islanders beat the Hurricanes 5-1 Friday night to cut their first-round series deficit to 2-1.
New York pulled away late with four goals in 2:18—the quickest four goals in Stanley Cup playoff history—from Casey Cizikas, Scott Mayfield, and Anders Lee. Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin stopped 30 shots.
“Every game would be a battle,” Palmieri said. “We persevered.” Hurricanes' Jesper Fast scored and Antti Raanta saved 32.
“It’s a tough ending,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It was close and got away at the end. Regroup and try again.”
In the first half of the third period, the Islanders had two power opportunities but little scoring chances. Raanta then saved an in-close Bo Horvat effort
with 6 1/2 minutes left to retain it 1-1. 40 seconds later, the Hurricanes goaltender saved a Noah Dobson shot. Sebastian Aho's right-point shot was deflected by Palmieri with 3:51 left on another Islanders power play.
“He tipped it,” Raanta remarked. “Those are playoff goals. The puck going wide makes save difficult. Good advice... It's a loss—learn from it."
Martin took a ball from Palmieri and beat Raanta from the left circle 44 seconds later to make it 3-1.
Mayfield scored a long empty-netter with 1:49 left after the Hurricanes removed Raanta for an extra skater. Lee scored 16 seconds after the goalie returned, giving the Islanders a postseason record four-goal outburst.