Carolina Hurricanes Review: Elite Sniper Ron Hainsey Takes Down Islanders

Mar 26, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Victor Rask (49) is congratulated by teammate Noah Hanifin (5) after his second period goal against the New York Islanders at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Victor Rask (49) is congratulated by teammate Noah Hanifin (5) after his second period goal against the New York Islanders at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tonight’s game was another big one for the Carolina Hurricanes against the New York Islanders in Brooklyn

Man what a game tonight against the Islanders.  While not as high scoring as the one back in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes still put on an offensive show in New York.  But every time the Hurricanes pulled ahead the Islanders evened things up and eventually, it took extra time to decide things in the Borough.  It was a fast and loose game for both teams and one that kept me drinking heavily like most Canes games.

First Period

Things would start out fast for both teams from the puck drop.  Skinner takes a questionable hit from Dennis Seidenberg and would leave the bench for a few minutes.

However, to the relief of the Canes nation, Skinner returned before the end of the period.  Slavin scores a beauty of a snipe from the top of the faceoff circle, but the Islanders quickly return the favor with an Anders Lee deflection and both teams would go into the intermission tied.  The Canes were lucky to do so as the Islanders controlled most of the play for the second half of the period.

Second Period

The second period continued like the first with a ton of back and forth between the sides as both teams decided that defense was an optional aspect of the game.  The Carolina Hurricanes took the lead off a Ron Hainsey snipe from a nice feed by Elias Lindholm that left Hainsey with a wide open net.

The assist would be Lindholm’s 20th of the season continuing his great play that started at the beginning of the year.  Carolina quickly added another to that goal from a nice shot by Lee Stempniak to beat Berube on the far post.  After taking the lead, though, Carolina would cede the momentum to the Islanders who poured the on shots.  The Islanders’ play forced Cam Ward to make several sparkling saves, but eventually, New York broke through with a Brock Nelson snipe. Things wouldn’t end there, though.  Even with the period in its final seconds, there was still plenty left for #TeuvoTime and Teravainen cleans up a loose puck and sends the Carolina Hurricanes into the second intermission leading 4-3.

Third Period and OT

The third period was all Islanders.  New York outshot the Hurricanes eleven to two in the final

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period, and halfway through were rewarded with the game-tying goal.  The Carolina Hurricanes were able to withstand the onslaught although Sebastian Aho sent the puck over the glass in the last minute and earned a penalty for delay of game.  The Canes escaped into overtime but were left with over a minute of 4 on 3 to kill off in extra time.

The Hurricanes finished killing off the penalty and eventually regained the puck off a faceoff in the Islanders zone.  Fortunately, Jon Tavares broke his stick on the faceoff leaving the Islanders in a precarious position.  A position the Hurricanes would take advantage of.

And there the oft-maligned defenseman Ron Hainsey comes through with his second goal of the night from a nice Justin Faulk feed.  Many people think it’s ridiculous to put Hainsey out 3v3 but for some reason, Bill Peters keeps doing it and tonight Peters was rewarded.  With this win, the Carolina Hurricanes have won their past three games and now have pulled to within four points of Philly with two games in hand.  Keeping the win streak going against the Capitals next Tuesday will be huge for the Hurricanes playoff chances.

Next: N. C. State Beats Those Losers in Chapel Hill

Matty B’s 3 Stars

  1. Ron Hainsey-I don’t think there’s any question Hainsey deserves the first star.  Two goals with the game winner enough said.
  2. Elias Lindholm-Had two assists with a primary one on Ron Hainsey’s first goal.  Overall a good game with some great chances himself.  The Aho, Staal, Lindholm line seems to be clicking really well
  3. Teuvo Teravainen-Scored the goal to give the Canes the lead after a bad second period.  This was the goal that allowed the team to even get to overtime