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New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes final score 5-3: Islanders lose focus in would-be blowout season opener

By Catherine Silverman

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The New York Islanders start their season off strong in an eventual 5-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes

The New York Islanders made sure to start their season off with a reminder to everyone that this year, they’re here to compete for the Cup.

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The metropolitan division team started off their season opener with a spectacular power-play goal from newcomer defenseman Johnny Boychuk late in the first period. The team would go on to take an early 3-0 lead largely due to the blue liner, who was traded to New York by the Boston Bruins earlier last week. Boychuk would earn two assists on the subsequent two goals, scored by Isles centerman Brock Nelson.

Boychuk and Nelson were joined by Travis Hamonic  and Mikhail Grabovski to bring the score to 5-1 following a third period power play goal by Carolina’s Nathan Gerbe, but the team lost steam towards the end of the third period and lost their grip on the monstrous lead. Carolina ended up scoring two unanswered goals in those final ten minutes of the final period, narrowing the Islanders’ lead to a mere 5-3.

Overall, the Islanders looked like the stronger team everywhere but the faceoff circle, where Carolina proved stronger throughout the entire game and on the penalty kill. The Hurricanes were by no means the worst team seen by hockey fans thus far in the season, but they were far from the best. In order to truly compete for the Stanley Cup this year, New York will need to polish up their play overall.

Despite a few road bumps most likely attributed to start-of-season rust, the New York Islanders came out of the gates strong. The addition of Boychuk is already proving to be a useful one, as is that of Jaroslav Halak in goal. Halak’s only issue all game was his weak third period (all three Carolina goals were scored in the final twenty minutes), but things seem to have improved in net for the Islanders overall.

The two teams will play again Saturday night, this time at Nassau Coliseum. It will be the Islanders’ final home game at the arena.

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