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Hurricanes return home to face Islanders

Oct 21, 2006 - 2:06 PM Carolina (3-4-1) at NY Islanders (2-3-2) 7:00 pm EDT

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes are probably tired of being on the road.

The Stanley Cup champions conclude their seven-game road trip Saturday when they tangle with the New York Islanders.

Carolina, 3-3-0 on the trip, comes off a 5-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. Eric Belanger scored late in the third period to lift the Hurricanes into a 3-3 tie, but Buffalo eventually took a 5-3 lead.

Defenseman Mike Commodore scored with 1:15 remaining to slice the deficit to 5-4, but Carolina could not get the equalizer. Eric Staal scored a goal and added an assist while Cam Ward made 24 saves.

The Islanders enter after a 2-1 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday and a 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

Alexei Yashin led the Islanders with a goal and two assists against the Penguins while Marc-Andre Fleury made 34 saves.