Hurricanes vs Islanders NHL Hockey Game Score, Recap

Tailgating began early, with the PNC Arena parking lots filling up quickly. The building was full, noisy.

It’s October. The Carolina Hurricanes opened a new hockey season. The New York Islanders were in the house Thursday for the start of an 82-game regular season, with both Metropolitan Division rivals recovering.

“It looks like we’re as close to par as possible right now,” Canes goaltender Frederik Andersen said ahead of the game.

The Canes gave a sold-out crowd a lot of fun, scoring a 6-3 victory that started with Andrei Svechnikov scoring Carolina’s first goal of the season, then ending it with the sixth, an empty net in advantage. digital. The special teams were sharp, the defenders active and engaged and Andersen quite good in goal on his first start with 25 saves.

“It was a very good game, a good game to watch,” said Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour. “I thought it was really entertaining. Hard fought. Both teams played really well I think. I’m sure they would probably say they gave up too much. I thought we probably gave up a bit too much, but it was an exciting game I think.

The game had all the pomp and circumstance of opening night. Brind’Amour received a huge helping hand from Canes fans during the team’s introductions. There, no surprise. Sebastian Aho, named assistant captain this season, received another.

Then they dropped the puck and what could be the best of the best metro teams got into a fight.

Svechnikov, who scored two goals and an assist, had the Canes fans at their best when he scored in the first and when he attempted his lacrosse swing behind the net in the third. Jesper Fast, Jordan Martinook and Nino Niederreiter also scored in a game that had good pace and enough intensity as the Canes led 2-1 after the first and took a 4-3 lead in the third.

Teuvo Teravainen’s power-play goal in the third made it 5-3, the forward snatching a shot from the right circle on a pass from Tony DeAngelo.

“The fifth goal took us out,” said Isles coach Barry Trotz. “We were hanging around a bit and I felt like we were going to get one last push.”

Teravainen, who missed much of last season with a concussion, also got an assist in a full game.

“He’s such a key player for us and he does everything,” said Brind’Amour. “Whatever we need to do, he can do. Obviously, in order for him to be in good health, he is enjoying the game again. “

There would soon be another season debut: Storm Surge’s first celebration after a win. The players first gathered halfway through the ice, followed by a collective jump into the ice.

The Canes signed Andersen – and goalkeeper Antti Raanta – to give them more veteran presence in net and Andersen secured Brind’Amour’s first start.

The Canes are counting on special teams to become a force again. Their puck movement was precise on the power play and Teravainen scored. And the Canes’ penalty killers, active and efficient for most of last season, were on point, not allowing the Isles to take a power play.

A homemade sign near the ice before the game read, “Now this one counts.” ”

For about six minutes, no one knew if the Islanders’ first goal of the season counted. Andersen, with a quick movement to his left, appeared to stop a Mathew Barzal shot with his pad at the post. But when play was stopped – two minutes later – there was a long examination of the shot.

The verdict: good goal from Barzal, lead 1-0 for the Isles. Cannes fans booed, but Svechnikov quickly made them roar. Defeating defenseman Andy Greene in front of goaltender Ilya Sorokin, he tipped the puck for Carolina’s first goal of the 2021-22 season.

The Canes’ second goal, and their first lead of the season, came after Jaccob Slavin snatched a shot from the left circle with Niederreiter and Fast in front. The goal was awarded to Slavin first, but Fast got his share of the puck – and the goal.

The second period was full of action from start to finish. The Isles tied the game in the first minute after a power move from Brock Nelson, and the Canes quickly responded to Martinook’s goal from the lunge as the fourth row gave the Canes both energy and a score after a good quarter of failure before.

It took another review, then a coach’s challenge for interference with the goalkeeper, before Niederreiter was credited with his goal. The Isles were penalized, but a victory by New York and a goal from Anders Lee made it 4-3 after two periods.

In Brind’Amour’s first game as head coach in October 2018, the Canes lost to the Islanders in overtime in the season opener at PNC Arena. So much has happened since for Carolina – three playoff appearances, one Central Division title. And the pandemic, which threatened everything for everyone.

But home fans left the arena in a festive mood after a solid victory.

“It was a good start and a great win and the crowd was in it and it was fun,” Niederreiter said after the game.

This story was originally published 14 October 2021 22:03.