The Carolina Hurricanes have ventured past regulation in three of their past four contests to extend their point streak to six games (3-0-3).
The Hurricanes aim to continue their steady rise on Saturday when they host the New York Islanders in Raleigh, N.C.
Teuvo Teravainen scored during the second period of a 2-1 shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. The Finland native ended a nine-game goal drought and has 12 on the season, tying him with countryman Sebastian Aho for the team lead.
“(The Penguins) played hard,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “They blocked a lot of shots (27). They were in the lanes. We were in the box. So, we couldn’t get any flow going.
“Third period, we were a little flat, I think, just because a lot of guys hadn’t gotten going. Give (them) a lot of credit. The killers worked really hard (on Wednesday).”
To his point, Carolina thwarted all five of Pittsburgh’s power-play opportunities to improve to 33-for-34 on the penalty kill since Dec. 1.
“The penalty kill did an unbelievable job getting us that point,” Carolina center Jack Drury said. “They had five big kills, (including) the one in overtime. I think a lot of credit goes to (them) today.”
The Hurricanes also went past regulation in both meetings with the Islanders this season. Aho scored in overtime of Carolina’s 4-3 victory over the Islanders Nov. 4, while New York’s Mathew Barzal had three assists before scoring in overtime of a 5-4 win Nov. 30.
The Islanders recorded at least a point for the 16th time in 18 games (10-2-6) following their 3-2 overtime setback to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.
“That’s a big point,” said captain Anders Lee, who scored a goal for the second time in as many games.
“Obviously would have loved to get two, but considering the circumstances, how the game was going, how we were feeling … it wasn’t our best game, but we found a way to end the game 2-2 and give ourselves a chance in overtime.
“You’re going to have nights where you’ve got to find a way just to tie it up and give yourself a chance at the end.”
Bo Horvat and Brock Nelson saw their respective point streaks come to an end on Wednesday. Horvat had eight goals and nine assists in his career-best 11-game run, while Nelson had four and four, respectively, during his five-game streak.
Defenseman Noah Dobson, the NHL’s Third Star of the Week, tripped Martin Fehervary 43 seconds into overtime on Wednesday. That penalty ultimately set up a four-on-three opportunity that Dylan Strome converted for the game-winning goal.
“Playing a lot of hockey, but we gotta find a way to manage it,” Dobson said, per the New York Post. “We gotta manage the puck better. Too many turnovers early and then you’re getting stuck in your own end and they’re coming at you.
“We’ll take the positive, get a point out of it, but definitely need to get better in those situations. Especially early.”
Dobson recorded three of his club-leading 28 assists in the most recent encounter against the Hurricanes. He also scored a goal in the first meeting.
–Field Level Media
