Hurricanes rely on veteran composure in the big rally for a 2-0 series lead on the Islanders
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The value from years of postseason lessons showed up in a desperate time for the Carolina Hurricanes as they turned a big deficit into a memorable comeback after long stretches of downright dominant play.
It was a sign of how the Hurricanes' veteran experience — a veteran core in the NHL playoffs for the sixth straight year mixed with past-year additions who have raised the Stanley Cup elsewhere — is just as vital as all the talent and depth in that locker room. And that's particularly true after Monday's 5-3 win against the New York Islanders, turning a three-goal deficit into a 2-0 lead in their firstround playoff series with the kind of win that etches itself in franchise lore for years to come.
"You do need to take time to reflect on those things because they're special, right?" coach Rod Brind'amour said Tuesday. "How often do you see a game like that with the stakes and everything that they are? But it's hard because we're always moving on to the next thing."
That next thing is trying to avoid letting the Islanders catch momentum as the series shifts north for Game 3 on Thursday.
The Hurricanes entered the postseason as the favorite to win the Cup, according to BETMGM Sportsbook.
Yet after grinding to a tough Game 1 win, the Hurricanes found themselves down 3-0 early in the second period after the Islanders went from failing to get a shot on Frederik Andersen for the first 13-plus minutes to beating him thrice in roughly eight minutes.
Yet the Hurricanes didn't wither. They attacked. They spent long stretches in the second period tilting the ice toward Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov, erasing outlets and controlling the puck in the offensive zone. They stayed composed after ringing the post multiple times without reward, as well as losing veteran defenseman Brett Pesce to a lower-body injury in the second period.
"It's the playoffs, it's not easy, every game is going to be hard," Carolina captain Jordan Staal said afterward. "There's going to be frustration. You've got to try to eat it. I thought we did a great job of sticking with what we needed to do."
The payoff came in shocking fashion, first with Sebastian Aho's post putaway with the extra attacker to tie it with 2:15 left. Then Jordan Martinook skated down an Islanders giveaway on the ensuing faceoff to score on a wraparound for a 4-3 lead just 9 seconds later — the fastest two-goal sequence in franchise postseason history — to send the home crowd still buzzing about Aho's score into roof-rattling euphoria.