Recap and Rank ‘Em: Hurricanes Blitz Islanders in 7-4 win

Defense went by the wayside tonight, as the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders combined for 11 goals, with the home team winding up victorious 7-4.

But Carolina went down early once again, making it four straight games in which they have given up the first goal. John Tavares struck four minutes into the first period, deflecting a Scott Mayfield shot from the blue line past a challenging Cam Ward for a quick lead.

But in true Canes fashion, they began controlling play and eventually found the back of the net in the person of Brock McGinn on the rebound from an Elias Lindholm shot in the slot. It was McGinn’s 4th goal in just three games.

The Islanders took the lead back before the end of the frame, however, with a point shot from Anders Lee that sailed past Ward’s glove.

New York started the second period on the same foot, with Jason Chimera scoring on an Anthony Beauvillier pass across the crease for a 3-1 lead.

But the 11/23/16 line for Carolina again came alive, providing pressure and a net-front presence for Justin Faulk to score his eighth of the season. Lindholm assisted on the play for his second point of the evening.

Continuing the theme of the night, this line connected again for the tying goal with McGinn feeding Lindholm for a quick one-timer. And they were not finished there, as McGinn found Pesce on the backdoor later in the period to take the 4-3 lead.

In the third, New York started strong once again, with Tavares netting his second of the game and fifth in two games to tie it at four goals apiece. But Lee Stempniak again answered for Carolina with a roofed shot off a faceoff win to regain the lead.

Teuvo Teravainen added a goal of his own, tipping home a Faulk point shot. Jordan Staal followed suit on the rebound a few minutes later to bring the score to a 7-4 margin for the home side.

With the win tonight, Carolina now sits just one point removed from the second wild-card spot, with two games in hand on the occupying Flyers.

Rank the Performances

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