The New York Islanders are determined to bounce back in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night in Elmont, N.Y., following a disheartening Game 2 loss.
The Islanders led 3-0 early in the second period but allowed the Hurricanes to score three goals in the final 2:15 of regulation, including two in a 9-second span, to lose 5-3 on Monday night. The loss dropped the Islanders to 81-1 all-time when leading a postseason game by three goals.
Head coach Patrick Roy expressed more disappointment over the Islanders’ Game 1 loss, where they outshot the Hurricanes 34-26 but lost 3-1. Roy believes the Islanders were outplayed in Game 2, but he believes they have a chance to steal a game in Game 3.
Ilya Sorokin will start in net for the Islanders in Game 3, while the Hurricanes will be without defenseman Brett Pesce, who is out with a lower-body injury. The Islanders are likely to be the healthier team on Thursday night, as fourth-line left winger Matt Martin is expected to return from maintenance issues.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, will be looking to extend their series lead to 3-0 and move one step closer to advancing to the second round. The Islanders, on the other hand, will be fighting to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole and facing elimination in Game 4.
