Nino Niederreiter, Hurricanes Beat Islanders to Take 2-0 Series Lead

The Carolina Hurricanes took a 2-0 series lead on the New York Islanders in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs with a 2-1 win Sunday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Warren Foegele tied the game 17 seconds into the third period, and Nino Niederreiter scored what proved to be the winning goal at the 1:05 mark of the final frame.

Mathew Barzal gave the Islanders an early lead with 13:17 gone in the first period. Through the first and second periods, Carolina struggled to mount much of an attack. The Hurricanes finished with only 18 shots for the game.

Perhaps the Islanders were guilty of losing focus momentarily to open the third period. Lucas Wallmark passed the puck off the boards and hit Foegele perfectly in stride. Foegele's wrist shot flew past Robin Lehner's right shoulder and off the inside of the post.

Niederreiter showed great stick work for Carolina's second goal. Lehner was in position to save Teuvo Teravainen's long-range effort, but Niederreiter deflected the puck past the Islanders goaltender.

With 7:34 left in the game, Jordan Eberle was centimeters away from a game-tying goal as his wrist shot caromed off the crossbar. No Islanders were in position to poke home the rebound with Curtis McElhinney completely unaware of the puck's position.

Although Carolina has plenty of reason to celebrate Sunday, the Hurricanes announced Trevor van Riemsdyk suffered an upper-body injury that knocked him out of the game. Cal Clutterbuck had checked Van Riemsdyk into the boards 26 seconds into the first period. The Carolina defenseman left the game shortly thereafter and didn't return.

Beyond putting a serious strain on the Hurricanes' depth, Van Riemsdyk's injury could leave the team down an experienced veteran on the ice.

Then in the second period, Carolina had to turn to McElhinney, its backup goaltender. The team cited a lower-body injury as the reason for Petr Mrazek's exit. 

Despite a lengthy layoff from meaningful action, McElhinney made 17 saves, far exceeding what anybody could've expected of him when he stepped on the ice.

McElhinney and the Hurricanes had a nervy moment with 14 seconds remaining in the second period. He saved a shot by Devon Toews, only to have Toews somehow poke the rebound home under McElhinney's left pad. 

The officiating crew huddled and determined Toews intentionally kicked the puck and didn't count the goal, which was the correct call.

Lehner's postgame comments weren't wide of the mark and showed why sometimes it's better to be lucky than good in a seven-game playoff series.

According to the News & Observer's Luke DeCock, Van Riemsdyk is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury and will have an MRI on Monday. Mrazek is day-to-day, though DeCock speculated the Hurricanes will probably recall Alex Nedeljkovic from their AHL affiliate as a precaution.

Carolina only needs to win two of the next four games to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Achieving that aim is easier said than done with new injuries to a pair of key players.

What's Next?

The series moves to PNC Arena for Game 3 on Wednesday. Only four teams in NHL history have overcome a 3-0 series deficit in the postseason, so the Islanders are essentially facing a must-win situation in Raleigh.