How the Islanders stayed alive and took Game 4: 3 takeaways

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ELMONT, N.Y. — Mathew Barzal tipped home Robert Bortuzzo's shot 1:24 into double overtime to keep the Islanders alive with a 3-2 win over the Hurricanes.

Bortuzzo, who only got a few shifts in the first overtime, let a slap shot go that deflected in front and past Frederik Andersen to send the series back to Raleigh for Game 5 on Tuesday.

Stefan Noesen tied the game with the Canes' second power-play goal of the day at 14:08 of the third, tapping in a feed from Teuvo Teravainen. J-G Pageau had given the Islanders the lead on a power play 1:38 into the third after Frederik Andersen kicked Noah Dobson's shot right out to Pageau. The Islanders killed off a Carolina power play soon after taking the lead but couldn't erase the next opportunity.

Seth Jarvis opened the scoring on the power play eight minutes into the first and Carolina played its usual assured style all the way through to the midway point of the second, when Barzal made a superb play to shed a defender and bury a long-range shot by Andersen to tie the game.

WINNNNNNER WINNNNNNER CHICKEN DINNNNNNNNNER pic.twitter.com/2g23ucNLG1

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 27, 2024

Hurricanes never waver

Carolina's relentless style didn't change once during this series, which allowed them to rally late in Games 2 and 4. Jaccob Slavin was up the ice to apply some pressure after exiting the penalty box in the back half of the third, forcing Bortuzzo to hook Slavin and prevent a possible scoring chance.

The Canes didn't dominate possession and shot attempts like they did in rallying from 3-0 down in Game 2 on Saturday, but they flipped from keeping the Islanders to the outside while holding a 1-0 lead through much of the first and second to attacking when they fell behind early in the third. The Islanders didn't have another gear to match Carolina's.

Canes' PP special again

The Islanders and special teams have not been friends this season. Their power play started the regular season well but faltered over the final weeks and their penalty kill was dead last in the league.

Carolina's special teams were both top-3 this season. And, even after the Islanders took the lead on a power play early in the third, Carolina's special teams saved the day.

Noesen scored on a tap-in off a feed from Teravainen on Carolina's fourth power play of the day, the tying goal late in the third just after the Hurricanes killed off an Islanders power play with ease. Jarvis' game-opening goal came after some steady pressure by the Islanders at five-on-five but just 46 seconds into the Canes' first power play of the game.

Barzal steps up

Barzal had been quiet until an elite sequence in the second when he shed Brady Skjei with a quick stop and snapped a wrist shot off the post and by Andersen. The Islanders had been fighting in quicksand the first half of the middle period, bogged down by the Hurricanes' quick movement and sticks. But Barzal's play and goal ignited the UBS Arena crowd and gave the Islanders some life.

It also gave Barzal some life. He got the home fans buzzing in subsequent shifts and set up a couple good scoring chances through the third. He did whiff on a good feed from Bo Horvat off the rush early in overtime, but he was in the right spot on the double-OT winner.

(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)