Timely Lapses Cost New York Islanders Against Carolina

The Carolina Hurricanes have eliminated the New York Islanders for the second year in a row, and it was not because of a lack of effort. Even though the series was over in five games, this could have been longer if not for some poor lapses in judgment by the Islanders.

Carolina had the better team on paper, but the Islanders stayed with the Hurricanes. And yes, a team has to make its luck and get the bounces by creating opportunities, but the Islanders had a chance to steal all three games in Carolina. But as Full Press Hockey previewed in the first-round series, PNC Arena was a house of horrors for the Islanders.

It has been a house of horrors not only for the Islanders but also for their team president and general manager, Lou Lamoriello, since 2002, when he was the president and general manager of the New Jersey Devils. His teams do not perform well in that building.

In two games, the Islanders gave up two goals in seconds of each other. That does not allow a team to win hockey games, but it was just lapses in time that allowed Carolina to take advantage of the scoreboard.

As Full Press Hockey documented after Game 2, in which the New York Islanders lost 3-0, the Hurricanes tied the game in the third period. With the extra attacker on the ice, the Hurricanes tied the game at 3-3 on a goal by Sebastian Aho. Then, nine seconds later, Jordan Martinook made it 4-3 before Jake Guentzel made it 5-3 to ice the game for the Hurricanes.

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The Islanders needed to win 3-0 to make the series with Carolina a long one. And then we go back to Game 1. The Islanders outplayed the Hurricanes but did not get the bounces. But Carolina in Game 2 kept coming in waves for the final 30 minutes of the hockey game. That was a series-changing game.

But so was Game 5. The Islanders had won a double overtime game in Game 4 to force a Game 5. Though the Islanders trailed the Hurricanes 3-1, they were getting chances on Frederik Andersen. Andersen stood on his head. Though Semyon Varlamov matched him save for save.

But you thought the Islanders had a chance to bring it back to UBS Arena as they rallied with goals from Casey Cizikas and Brock Nelson. There was hope. The Islanders had chances but could not convert on Andersen. At one point, the Islanders had a chance to take the lead, but a puck jumped over Jean-Gabriel Pageau‘s stick.

But again it was the third period that did the Islanders in. First, Jack Drury regained the lead for the Hurricanes, making it 4-3. Then, eight seconds later, Stefan Noesen scored to make it 5-3 in favor of the Hurricanes. Noesen took advantage of Varlamov mishandling the puck and put it right into the open net. Again, it comes down to bounces and creating the opportunities to capitalize on them.

But these timely lapses happened all season for the New York Islanders. They were a big reason why the Islanders had 25 third-period blown leads.

The Islanders had hoped to return the series to UBS Arena, but it was not meant to be. This Islanders team will be changed next season. One thing is sure: they need to address playing better defensively in front of their goaltender if they want a chance to get back to the playoffs and make another deep run.