Islanders wait for second OT to down Carolina, 3-2

In Elmont, the Islanders stayed alive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs first round series with the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon. Mathew Barzal tipped in a shot form the blue line that found the back of the cage to give the Isles a 3-2 win in double overtime, forcing a Game 5 back in Raleigh on Tuesday.

“Great forecheck by Bo [Horvat]. That’s kind of just how it’s been,” Barzal said. “When we can get the puck stopped down there and get the forecheck going and slow the play down a little bit down there, we have some success. It was a great shot by Bortuzzo, trying to find the lane and throw it in an area where there’s some bodies. It’s a lucky bounce.”

The goal came at 1:24 of the second extra session.

“You have no idea how proud I am of this group,” New York coach Patrick Roy said. “They came out and played hard. Even when [the Hurricanes] took the lead, we stayed calm, and we stayed focused. Our mindset was really good and I think the guys were determined to find a way to fight to win this hockey game.”

It was Barzal’s second goal of the game.

The Hurricanes had forced the extra time when Stephan Noesen scored on a tip in at the front of the cage at 14:08 of the third period, tying the game, 2-2.

Semyon Varlamov made 42 saves in the win.

The Canes took a 109 lead on a power play strike by Seth Jarvis at 8:00 of the opening stanza, scoring after the puck had bounced around the crease before finding its way to the left circle for a shot.

“It’s tough to win four games in a row on someone, especially when the games are so even like they are,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It could have went either way in all three, just like tonight could have easily gone the other way. We expected it to be a long series and we’ve got to focus on the next one.”

Barzal potted his first of the match midway through the second period to tie the game, 2-2, scoring off a shot from atop the right circle and glancing in off the far post.

“I just tried to use my speed on the outside, turned up and I really didn’t see anything,” Barzal said. “Their defensemen played really well. I didn’t have much space. It was a great screen by [Casey] Cizikas. He slid in front of Andersen’s eyes there, and I just tried to put the puck on net. You never know.”

Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored 98 seconds into the third period to stake the Isles to a 2-1 lead. He scored off the power play on a one-timer form the left circle.

“I was happy. It’s always fun to contribute offensively,” Pageau said. “My game is not always scoring goals or getting points. It’s winning my battles, winning my face-offs, and being strong with the puck, but it’s definitely fun. I was happy to score that goal.”

The Islanders remain in must win territory, trailing in the series, 3-1. Frederik Andersen made 32 saves in the loss.