Carolina Hurricanes Turn Opportunity into Despair Against Islanders

The Carolina Hurricanes come home after a big night to finish off the Islanders.

The Carolina Hurricanes played an amazing game Monday night and came straight home Tuesday for a true home and home series with the NY Islanders.  Key for Tuesday’s game was to stay on top of a team that might be a little road weary and worn out.  The second half of this series was all about the Canes keeping up the speed, controlling the middle of the ice, and keep pressing the offense. All the Islanders wanted out of the night was to survive, and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Special Players:

With Justin Faulk a little beat up from Monday’s game, would the reunion of Bret Pesce and Jaccob Slavin shut down the  Islander’s top line?  For the most part, the duo performed admirably other than Slavin’s attempt at blocking a shot leading to the Joshua Ho-Sang goal.

Related Story: Top 5 Forward Free Agents

Then there was all the talk about Cam Ward getting the call for the game after a poor performance in Monday’s game.  Ward only stopped 23 shots for a .852 save percentage.  Cam needed to step up Tuesday and show everyone he deserved this game over Eddie Lack.  For the most part, Cam was all right and he did make some good saves to keep the game tied in the third.  His .912 save percentage wasn’t awful if still below average.

The Game:

The Hurricanes got started right out of the gate with a solid start.  The Canes take control early and show some speed like the previous game.  Cam Ward starts out with a big save to show he’s ready to play.

While keeping the pressure on NYI’s goalie the hot 4^th line from Monday continues to take care of business with this goal from Joakim Nordstrom.  Assists from Stempniak and Lucas Wallmark, his first NHL point. Congrats!

With fresh ice and New York pressing at the beginning of the 2^nd period, Elias Lindholm had a nice takeaway and streaks down the ice for a 2-0 lead less than a minute in.

The second period started to get costly for the Carolina Hurricanes with first Jay McClement going out with a lower body injury and soon after Noah Hanifin gets a leg whip by the Islanders

Before you knew it New York took advantage of a tired line of Canes with this goal by Joshua Ho-Sang.

And then much like the game Monday night, the Islanders scored in bunches as New York’s Jason Chimera evens it up and just 25 seconds later.

Down the stretch

The third was an offensive back and forth period.  The Islanders really started to take control of the period halfway through, but Cam Ward comes through with one big save after another and keeps the Canes in the game all by himself.  The period ends without any further scoring and the game heads to overtime.

OT:

Same ole story prevailed in overtime.  Carolina took the faceoff and rushed down the ice quickly, this gave John Tavares time to steal the show with a takeaway and his line rushed down the ice and completed the comeback with an easy goal on Cam Ward.

Final Words

The Canes had their chances to cease the game at multiple points during the 2^nd and 3^rd period but no one on the offensive end of the puck wanted to take control.  After a good game last night, Jeff Skinner was non-existent on the score sheet. For the most part none of the “A” for the Canes especially Jordan Staal really didn’t make a dent in the stats.  With the Hurricanes only missing Jay McClement in the third period, there shouldn’t have been any excuses for the offense to just shut down at the end of the game.

Next: 2017 is the Year of the Rookie

The Carolina Hurricanes have found a new way to really disappoint all the Caniacs when it comes to overtime games.  How a team consistently can give up a goal within the first minute multiple times this year in overtime is disappointing.  Then again, no time to dwell on the past, Eric Staal and the Minnesota Wild come to town Thursday for an interesting homecoming for the Staal family.