In the Carolina Hurricanes’ penultimate home game of the season, the team, which was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday night, came up flat in a 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders Thursday night at PNC Arena.
Islanders (39-29-12) goalie Jaroslav Halak was sharp throughout, stopping 29 of 29 Canes (35-31-14) shots for the shutout. The Islanders were clearly the better team throughout, playing with more energy and speed in all facets of the game. Thursday night was the Canes’ fourth-straight loss, and second home game in a row in which the team was shut out.
“I didn’t think we had the required intensity to execute at a high level,” head coach Bill Peters said. “That’s really what it amounts to. I don’t think you can play at this level and not have the NHL intensity and have NHL execution. That’s what it looked like to me”
The Canes played a poor first period in which they were outshot 10-6. Carolina gave up several scoring chances and could not get anything going in the offensive zone. The Islanders got off to a quick start; forward Brock Nelson capitalized on a defensive turnover by the Canes and slipped a backhander through goalie Eddie Lack’s pads less than two minutes in.
“We didn’t have the desperation or intensity,” Canes forward Lee Stempniak said. “They needed to win; they came out and at one point the shots were 7-1. They completely outplayed us early on.”
New York pushed the lead to 2-0 just five minutes into the contest; defenseman Scott Mayfield put home the rebound off a shot by forward Anders Lee to continue the Isles’ strong start.
Former Hurricane Andrew Ladd put the Islanders up by three less than a minute into the second with a power-play goal, beating Lack stick side from the side boards to make it 3-0.
“They came out and outskated us,” Stempniak said. “I think as the game wore on, things evened out but we dug ourselves too big a hole. We didn’t score a goal, so obviously we didn’t win, but even if we scored two, it wouldn’t have been enough. It’s hard to be down 3-0 so early in the game.”
Thursday night’s game provided an emotional, inspiring moment for one Hurricanes player. Forward Bryan Bickell, who returned to the team’s lineup Tuesday night in Minnesota for the first time since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in October, played his first game on home ice in front of his family since his diagnosis.
“It’s nice just to be back,” Bickell said. “It’s been a long road to get here. Through the teammates and the people that have helped me, the support to help me get here, that’s definitely special. I have to thank them and everybody that pushed me.”
Despite the Canes’ elimination from playoff contention, the team still has something to play for in these final games. In particular, individual evaluations going into the offseason are still playing out, making tonight’s effort all the more disappointing for Peters.
“It’s interesting to watch,” Peters said. “It’s what you do. You continue to evaluate and you continue to watch. That’s disappointing. A disappointing start to the game; [we had] a disappointing start in [Minnesota], so that will be a focus for our next game.”
The Canes will play their final home game and second-to-last game of the season Saturday night at PNC against the St. Louis Blues.
