In Elmont, the New York Islanders used a four-goal third period to break open a 1-1 affair and defeat the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-1, on Friday.
The decision gets the Isles i the win column, though they still trail the Canes, 2-1, in the series.
Game 4 is in Elmont on Sunday.
“Did you think they were going to roll over and die?” Carolina forward Jordan Martinook said. “We know they’re not going [to]. They’re here for a reason. Obviously we want to try to win every game and we’re trying to get the next one, so learn some things from tonight and come back Sunday.”
After a scoreless first period, the Islanders took a 1-0 lead in the middle frame at 12:46 on a strike by Casey Cizikas.
“I can’t really take too much credit,” Cizikas said. “That pass from [Pulock] was unbelievable. I didn’t even think he saw me, but he made a beautiful pass and I was able just to get it over his shoulder.”
Jesper Fast tied the game, 1-1, off a shorthanded goal at 16:56.
“We had a good first period,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We really liked how we came out [and tried] to get something out of that period.”
Ilya Sorokin made 30 saves in the game, half of them in the first period.
The third period belonged to the Islanders who rattled off four unanswered goals in the frame.
Kyle Palmieri hit off the power play with less than four minutes left on the clock for the what would be the game-winner.
“Big goal,” Palmieri said. “It was a tight game, and it feels good to come out on top.”
Matt Martin scored 44 seconds later for a little breathing room for New York, and a 3-1 advantage.
“It was pretty awesome,” Martin said of the atmosphere. “I didn’t think that [it] would be what the (Nassau) Coliseum was, but it’s [darn] close. Obviously, our fans bring so much energy for us and really help us tilt the ice, especially in the third period when we really needed a push.”
The Islanders then hit two more quick strikes with Scott Mayfield hitting an empty net at 18:11, and Anders Lee scoring 16 seconds later.
“We were able to put a couple in and get a lead tonight at the end there with that tip from [Palmieri] to really put ourselves in a great position,” said Lee.
Antti Raanta made 32 saves in the Canes loss.
“I think we played good enough in the first period, [and the] second period we battled,” Raanta said. “They were giving a lot of pressure and we played well. Third period, we just didn’t have that extra push to get the win.”
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