The Carolina Hurricanes had a 3-2 lead with just 1:30 left in the game, but relinquished the game-tying goal to Kyle Okposo then came up short in the ensuing shootout as they lost to the New York Islanders, 4-3 in front of 13,828 Tuesday night at the RBC.
After falling behind 1-0 just 3:40 into the game, the Canes tied things up on an Anthony Stewart tip in just 31 seconds later. Jay Harrison fired the puck on net and earned the first assist on the play.
Carolina would take the lead in the second period when Drayson Bowman went behind the net and stripped the puck from Evgeni Nabokov, then got it out to Brandon Sutter for an easy goal, but the Isles would tie things up early in the third.
Chad LaRose scored what looked like might be the game winner with just four minutes and change left, but once again the Islanders would not give up and tied it up with 1:30 on the clock.
After an evenly played overtime, the New Yorkers buried two shots in the shootout to just one for the Hurricanes to earn the win. The loss puts the Hurricanes in sole possession of last place in the East.
Next up will be Buffalo at the RBC on Friday night.
Game Notes:
- Jussi Jokinen scored the only Carolina goal in the shootout. Eric Staal and Chad LaRose were both stopped. Frans Nielsen got the game winner for NY and made it look easy, as did the first shooter for the Isles.
- The Canes outshot the Islanders 40-36. Staal led the way with five. Staal also had over 25 minutes of ice time, as did Tim Gleason.
- Justin Faulk had a team high three takeaways. He was beaten by Okposo on the important tying goal though.
- LaRose had a team high five hits but also missed the net four times on his shots, also a team high.
- The team won 57% of their faceoffs. Staal 56%, Sutter 42%, Jokinen 68%, and Brent 57%.
- Carolina has yet to win a game this season in a shootout.
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