Isles hope to get boost from home crowd

UBS Arena was not quite Fort Neverlose 2.0 in its playoff debut a year ago — with the Islanders dropping two out of three games at home, including the season-ending Game 6 to Carolina in overtime.

But that is not stopping them from believing and hoping this year will be different, despite the all-too-familiar circumstances of walking into Game 3 down 2-0 to the ’Canes and feeling the sting of a heartbreaking Game 2 loss — a year ago on Jesper Fast’s overtime gamewinner and Monday night on a blown 3-0 lead late in regulation.

The ear-splitting noise of PNC Arena when Sebastian Aho and Jordan Martinook scored within 9 seconds of each other to tie the game and take the lead Monday did at least serve as a reminder that the crowd can make a difference. And the Islanders certainly are in need of the morale boost that some noise can provide.

“When you have the crowd behind you and that energy, it puts a little extra step in your game,” Ryan Pulock told reporters Tuesday. “And as the visiting team, you have to try to fight that and get that back. I think we’re gonna be excited come Game 3. I think our building will be lively, just like theirs was, and we can feed off that energy.”

➤ Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said Tony DeAngelo would likely come into the Hurricanes’ lineup if Brett Pesce, who left Game 2 in the second period with a lower-body injury, can’t go Thursday.

Fast, who has missed the first two games of the series, will not play Thursday if he doesn’t practice Wednesday.

➤ The Hurricanes have yet to decide on a Game 3 starter in nets between Frederik Andersen, who has played the first two games, and Pyotr Kochetkov.