Trailing 3-0 in the third period, the Hurricanes faced an uphill battle. However, they showcased resilience and determination, starting with a goal by Sebastian Aho with 9:17 remaining. Just nine seconds later, Jordan Martinook gave Carolina their first lead of the game.
With the Islanders forced to pull their goalie, Jake Guentzel sealed the victory with an insurance goal. Seth Jarvis led the Hurricanes with three points (a goal and two assists), while Andrei Svechnikov, Aho, and Guentzel each had two points.
The Hurricanes significantly outshot the Islanders 39-12, controlling the pace of play especially in the third period. The Islanders, who had scored three goals in the first half of the game, struggled to maintain their offensive momentum as the game progressed.
The Islanders now find themselves in a precarious position, down 2-0 in the series. They will need to make adjustments, potentially considering a change in goal from Semyon Varlamov to Ilya Sorokin, who was a Vezina Trophy finalist this season.
Game 3 of the series will take place in New York on Thursday, April 25, where the Islanders will be desperate to avoid falling into an 0-3 deficit.
