Hurricanes seek to end Islanders’ disadvantages

Rod Brind’Amour didn’t leave much to the interpretation on Friday night.

“The power play cost us the game,” the Hurricanes head coach said after his team lost Game 3 of their first-round playoff series to the Islanders, 5-1. “It was clear.”

Since Carolina scored on its first two power plays of the series, the Islanders have killed 11 of the 12 penalties that followed, the only exception being a clumsy own goal that took a bad rebound off Sebastian’s stick. Aho in Game 2.

Especially given their own struggles on the power play, which has been 2-27 since March 24, the more the Islanders can make this first-round streak about five-on-five, the better. And that means doing everything they can shorthanded.

“It’s just about accepting what we have to do,” Casey Cizikas said after Game 2. “Everyone has a job and we rely on each other to be out there in the right places, and that’s the most important thing so far.”

The penalty kill has been a strength all season for the Islanders, who finished ninth in the league at four-on-five. After an early blemish in Game 1, they made it a force in this opening round series.

The Islanders have used penalties to their advantage this season.Paul J. Bereswill

“I didn’t even think we were that bad in the first game,” said Adam Pelech. “The first goal came quickly and then the second was a tip. We’ve definitely made some small adjustments and we’re doing better. So I think we just have to keep adapting to what they’re doing and keep trying to improve.

Ahead of Game 4 on Sunday afternoon, in which the Islanders will have a chance to do well in the series, Brind’Amour said his team rushed on the power play, deviating too easily from their plans. .

“It’s not letting him run your sets,” Brind’Amour told reporters. “We just take the first chance we can and net it. But we try to run a set and that’s why [it looks like] we are not on the same page there.

“I think [the intentions] are all good, everyone is trying to do the right things. I think sometimes we try a little too hard in this area because we know how important it is. We know this is our chance to win the game.

Carolina goaltender Antti Raanta is unbeaten in his career in the playoffs at home (8-0), but winless on the road (0-7). Brind’Amour did not name a starter for Game 4 on Saturday, although Frederik Andersen – the likely choice if he were to leave Raanta – was battling illness and did not dress for Game 3.

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