Islanders Come Out Slow in Season Opener vs Hurricanes

It was a weird start for the New York Islanders in Carolina. Initially, it looked like Carolina had the better start to the game but it was the Islanders who got on the board first. It took a review, but Mathew Barzal did in fact get the Islanders on the board first 7:23 into the game.

That lead was short-lived though, as Carolina bounced back with two quick goals from Andrei Svechnikov and Jesper Fast before the end of the period. The Islanders had two power play opportunities in the period and didn’t do much with them at all.

They struggled to gain entry into the zone and then couldn’t sustain any kind of momentum with the puck. Unfortunately, that was a theme from last year so it’ll be something to monitor.

The second period was much different. Just 52 seconds into the period, Brock Nelson tied the game for the Islanders.

What a play by Brock to stick with it and sneak one past Frederik Andersen. The game wouldn’t remain tied for long though as Jordan Martinook would give the Hurricanes the lead again. Nino Niederreiter added a fourth Carolina goal on the night. Barry Trotz tried to challenge for goalie interference but no dice.

Anders Lee served the penalty and then shortly after it expired, Lee would get the Islanders back to within one. Lee was just in his typical dirty area doing his thing. All things considered, being down one felt lucky at this point.

Carolina had a whopping 22 shots in the second period which negated the Islanders’ strong period with 14. In the third period, Oliver Wahlstrom was called to the box for holding against Jacob Slavin and the Hurricanes power play made it a two-goal lead once again with a Teuvo Teravainen goal.

Andrei Svechnikov would add an empty-net goal to make it 6-3. They came out flat and the defense left a lot to be desired tonight. No, this doesn’t mean that you should panic nor does it mean that there needs to be a lineup change.

R-E-L-A-X. It’s one of 82, they’ll be better on Saturday in Florida. Keep an eye on Oliver Washlstrom though, he didn’t get much time in the third after his penalty.