Hurricanes Take 2-0 Lead in Series With Islanders

The Stanley Cup Playoffs have been one surprise after another this year, and we are only in the second round. All four regular season division winners were eliminated, and all four Wild Cards advanced. The Carolina Hurricanes were one of those Wild Cards that advanced, beating the defending Cup champion and this season’s Metropolitan Division champ Washington in seven games, after losing the first two. It was Carolina’s first trip to the post season in 10 years. The Hurricanes advanced to play the New York Islanders, who made a huge turnaround themselves this season, finishing in second in the Metro, just one point behind the Capitals. It’s the Islanders first playoff appearance in three years.

New York would seem to have the advantage. The Hurricanes had to go seven games to advance, while the well rested Islanders swept Pittsburgh in the opening round. New York also has home ice advantage in this series. Carolina has some injury issues as well.

The Islanders allowed the fewest goals this season and the Hurricanes were tied for seventh fewest, so one might figure this would be a low scoring series. It certainly started out that way, with Carolina winning the opener 1-0 in overtime on a Jordan Staal goal on April 26th. Then in Game 2, the Islanders scored in the first period to take a 1-0 lead, a score that held up through two periods. Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek went out in the second period with a lower body injury, and was replaced by Curtis McElhinney. The 35 year old McElhinney has carved out niche for himself as a very good backup goalie, and his numbers this season were pretty close to what Mrazek had.

Carolina scored quickly in the third period, with Warren Foegele scoring just 17 seconds into the period. That was followed 48 seconds later by a goal by one time Islander Nino Niederreiter. The remainder of the game was scoreless, and the Hurricanes won 2-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the series heading back to Raleigh.

Game 3 will be played on May 1st.