Carolina Hurricanes: Takeaways from Round 2 SWEEP of New York Islanders
![RALEIGH, NC - MAY 03: Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) and Carolina Hurricanes right wing Nino Niederreiter (21) congratulate Carolina Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams (14) after scoring his 100th playoff point during a game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Islanders on March 3, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) RALEIGH, NC - MAY 03: Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) and Carolina Hurricanes right wing Nino Niederreiter (21) congratulate Carolina Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams (14) after scoring his 100th playoff point during a game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Islanders on March 3, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5774077278641637c6a9ff6e333931a7020a3509917b8943acd15b8c4d125e28.jpg)
1st Period:
Right out of the gates, the Carolina Hurricanes seemed to look flat, if we’re being honest. The New York Islanders were always going to start that game from a place of desperation, and it seemed like the Hurricanes weren’t ready to match that.
After Andrei Svechnikov took an early penalty in the first few minutes of the game, Matthew Barzal of the New York Islanders converted on the ensuing powerplay, bringing the Islanders to an early one goal lead.
The Hurricanes, ignited by a need to finish the Islanders off, answered in true Carolina fashion; quick, fast, and in a hurry. Sebastian Aho was able to convert on the Hurricanes first powerplay of the game, and tied it up at 1 goal per side.
Whatever It Takes 😎 pic.twitter.com/iIbr34t4yp
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 3, 2019
The first period would remain deadlocked, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Robin Lehner (who was eventually pulled and replaced with Thomas Greiss; more on that later) and Curtis McElhinney came up with some brilliant stops to keep the game even, finishing up the period with the Islanders taking advantage in the shot column, 10-5.