Hurricanes 4 - 2 Islanders
Final
  for this game

Hurricanes stay in playoff hunt with win over Isles

Apr 3, 2011 - 4:49 AM Uniondale, NY (Sports Network) - Eric Staal, Erik Cole and Joe Corvo scored in the third period, as the Carolina Hurricanes rallied past the New York Islanders, 4-2, at Nassau Coliseum.

Corvo also had two assists for the Hurricanes, who have won six of their last seven games and sit one point behind the idle Rangers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"We're already in that mentality that we're just so desperate going into every game, especially when we're trailing in the third period," Corvo said. "We're so desperate that we don't have to change our mentality at all if we do make the playoffs."

Jussi Jokinen also scored for Carolina, which got 29 saves from Cam Ward.

Jesse Joensuu and John Tavares lit the lamp for the Islanders, who have lost four of five. Al Montoya turned aside 22-of-25 shots.

Carolina was down 2-1 entering the third, but Corvo tied the game at the 3:02 mark. Tim Gleason's shot from the point deflected off Corvo and beat Montoya.

Cole gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 edge just over three minutes later. Staal gathered the puck at the right circle and found an open Cole, who redirected the pass into the back of the net from in front.

"They're a desperate team so they came out hard and for a few minutes there we kind of stopped skating and moving our feet," Tavares said. "We weren't doing the things that made us successful the first two periods."

New York went on the power play with 1:32 to play when Jamie McBain was sent to the box for a delay of game. The Islanders then pulled Montoya for a two- man advantage, but Staal scored on the empty net to seal Carolina's victory.

Carolina drew first blood at the 4:47 mark of the first period. Corvo led a rush down the right side of the ice and made a cross-ice pass to the left circle. Jokinen gathered the disc and fired a wrister past Montoya.

Joensuu's shot from the right circle made it a 1-1 game just four minutes later.

The Islanders took a 2-1 lead on Tavares' goal at the 7:05 mark of the middle stanza. Matt Moulson's shot from the right point was deflected in by Tavares.

Game Notes

The Hurricanes have won six in a row against the Islanders, including four meetings this season...The teams combined to go 0-for-7 on the power play...New York forward Michael Grabner returned from a two-game absence while awaiting the birth of his son.






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