Canes defensemen, Andersen deliver without Pesce, Carolina beats Islanders 3-2, take 3-0 series lead

By Pat Welter

Carolina Hurricanes	3
New York Islanders	2
Final

Elmont, N.Y. — With no Brett Pesce the Hurricanes defenseman stepped up with two goals in a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders to take a 3-0 series lead. Carolina struck five minutes into the first period when defenseman Brent Burns cashed a quick wrister near the blue line for his first point and goal of the post season.

The New York Islanders made the switch to Ilya Sorokin in goal for game three. Carolina sticking with Freddie Andersen who robbed Noah Dobson of what could have been the game tying goal ten minutes into the period with a glove save. Sometimes a great save leads to a great goal and minutes later Andrei Svechnikov found Dmitry Orlov with a cross ice pass, Orlov buried the wrister to make it 2-0. Carolina had several other chances to to end the period, but were unable to get another past Sorokin to end the first.

The Islanders found life early in the second when team captain Anders Lee hit Pierre Engvall with a centering pass. Engvall was able to beat Andersen who would have needed to make a spectacular save from point blank range to make the stop.

Carolina responded with some solid puck possession resulting in an opportunity for Jaccob Slavin that was stopped by Sorokin who looked like he was strarting for find his game. But hard to keep this Canes offense down right now. Sebastian Aho scored on a wrister, his second goal of the series on the second assist of the game from Svechnikov with 12:46 left in the second period to take a 3-1 lead. The Islanders went back to Semyon Varlamov after the goal.

As dominant as Carolina has been at times in this series, the Islanders have been good at cashing in their chances. With 2:21 left in the period, Brock Nelson beat Andersen on a rebound to make it a 3-2 game again entering the third.

The Islanders looked like the desperate team in the third period, but Carolina was able to weather the storm thanks to more great goaltending by Andersen. With 5:45 left in the game, Andersen fell to his back, but was able to make a highlight worthy glove save on Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov. Andersen finished with 29 saves.  Carolina will look to close out the series on Long Island Saturday at 2:00pm.