The New York Islanders face an uphill battle in their first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes after dropping the first two games. The Islanders are particularly frustrated by their Game 2 loss, where they squandered a three-goal lead in the final 2:15 of regulation, losing 5-3. Head coach Patrick Roy believes the Game 1 loss, where the Islanders outshot the Hurricanes but lost 3-1, was more disheartening. 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 aim to capitalize on home-ice advantage and force a split in the series.