Islanders give up two goals in nine seconds, blow 3-0 lead in loss to Hurricanes
The New York Islanders were leading 3-0 Monday night against the Carolina Hurricanes and had never blown that big a lead in their long, successful playoff history.
Instead they're heading home down 2-0 in the first-round Eastern Conference series after an epic collapse that included the Hurricanes scoring the tying goal and go-ahead goal nine seconds apart late in the third period for a 5-3 win.
Carolina outshot the Islanders 17-1 in the third period and scored four third-period goals.
"We can’t just get a lead and try to hold on," Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson told reporters. "They’re too good of a team for that."
The Islanders got their big lead nearly 24 minutes into the game on goals by Kyle Palmieri, Bo Horvat and Anders Lee, even though they were outshot 8-0 early in the game. But the Hurricanes chipped away on goals by Teuvo Teravainen in the second period and Seth Jarvis in the third. An Islanders goal was wiped out for a high stick, setting the stage for the Hurricanes' heroics.
With their goalie pulled, the Hurricanes got a tying goal by Sebastian Aho. Islanders coach Patrick Roy told reporters he thought about calling a timeout but didn't.
After the following faceoff, Jack Drury pushed the puck in deep. Jordan Martinook knocked Dobson off the puck behind the net and came out front to beat goalie Semyon Varlamov for a 4-3 lead.
"The momentum of us tying that game and energy that it sends, you get a whole juice that hits you," Martinook said. "Obviously, I get in on the forecheck and luckily be able to pick and make that play."
The Hurricanes shattered their previous playoff record of two goals in 25 seconds.
After trade deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel scored the empty-netter to seal the win, Palmieri went after Guentzel and those two and Brock Nelson were kicked out of the game. Six more players would be ejected before the game ended.
The Hurricanes rallied from a three-goal deficit to win a playoff game for the first time since their Stanley Cup championship year in 2006. The Islanders had been 81-0 in the playoffs when leading by three, according to ESPN.
"It’s a tough loss, no doubt about it because we had our chance to win that game," Roy said. "But at the same time, we got to regroup and be ready for the next game (Thursday)."
The Hurricanes didn't escape the game unscathed. Defenseman Brett Pesce left with a lower-body injury and didn't return.
"That's not looking good," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "He's going to get it looked at tomorrow."
Mark Stone scores as Golden Knights beat Stars
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored in his first game after missing 26 games with a lacerated spleen and the defending champions held on to beat the Dallas Stars 4-3 in Game 1 of their Western Conference series.
Stone, who had missed games down the stretch with an injury the past two seasons, scored 83 seconds into the game on a power-play deflection. He ended up playing more than 17 minutes.
Trade deadline acquisitions Tomas Hertl (goal) and Noah Hanifin (two assists) also had big games in the rematch of last season's Western Conference final.
Maple Leafs rally to beat Bruins
The Toronto Maple Leafs took their first lead in six games this season against the Boston Bruins and made it count as they won 3-2 to tie the series at a game apiece.
The Bruins went with Linus Ullmark in net after Jeremy Swayman's Game 1 win, sticking with their regular-season rotation. Ullmark made save brilliant stops, including robbing Nick Robertson with a glove save.
But Maple Leafs 69-goal scorer Auston Matthews beat him on a breakaway at 12:06 of the third period to give Toronto the lead and the center a three-point game.
Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov preserved the lead and finished with 27 saves.
Oilers stars lead Game 1 win against Kings
Zach Hyman had a hat trick and Connor McDavid had five assists as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Los Angeles Kings 7-4 in the series opener.
Tuesday's NHL playoff games
Washington Capitals at New York Rangers, 7, ESPN
Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers, 7:30, ESPN2
Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets, 9:30, ESPN
Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks, 10, ESPN2