NY Islanders F Pierre Engvall accomplishes a career first versus the Hurricanes

Entering Sunday's game with the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders forward Pierre Engvall had never registered a multi-goal game in his six-year NHL career, which spanned 370 games.

That streak ended when Engvall scored his second goal of the game 1:37 into the second period to give the Islanders a 3-2 lead. Prior to that, all 63 of Engvall's goals had come in 63 different games, which, according to MSG Networks statistician Eric Hornick, was the third-highest total of goals for any player in NHL history not to score twice in a game. It's a peculiar and amusing stat for a peculiar player who has frustrated multiple fanbases and coaches throughout his career.

He scored 15 goals in 2021-22 in 78 games and 17 in 2022-23 in a combined 76 with Toronto and the Islanders. There was a time when Engvall was thought to have 20-goal potential while playing a top-six or top-nine role for a team. However, this season, his second with the Islanders after signing a seven-year contract extension, has been another puzzling chapter in his career.

The 28-year-old has always shown flashes. After all, the way he played after being acquired by the Islanders from Toronto led to GM Lou Lamoriello handing him a seven-year contract that raised eyebrows across the NHL. After scoring 10 goals and 18 assists over 74 games in his first full season on Long Island, Engvall was the odd-man out at the start of training camp and was placed on waivers before the beginning of the season.

Injuries ultimately led to Engvall's recall, though he has been scratched multiple times. Head coach Patrick Roy has been frustrated by his inconsistent play and effort throughout the year, often finding it hard to put into words what he needs to see from him moving forward. There's even been talk within media circles that the Isles should consider buying him out with five years left on his deal.

However, now, suddenly, he's playing his best hockey of the season, using his elite speed and physical presence the way Roy and all his previous coaches have wanted. He has scored four goals over the last seven games and has gone from being much-maligned to one of their more reliable forwards. The question is how long it'll last.