Hurricanes can’t close out Islanders, lose Game 4 of first-round series in double OT

The Carolina Hurricanes couldn’t sweep the New York Islanders for the second time in six years. Instead, they’ll have a chance to close out the series at home on Tuesday.

Mathew Barzal’s goal 84 seconds into the second overtime gave the Islanders a 3-2 win on Saturday and sent the series back to Raleigh for Game 5 on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at PNC Arena.

Stefan Noesen’s power-play goal with just under six minutes to play forced the first overtime of this postseason after the Islanders held a late 2-1 lead.

This was the third time since relocation the Hurricanes have gone up 3-0 in a playoff series, and the second time they couldn’t finish it in Game 4.

Seth Jarvis gave the Hurricanes an early lead with a power-play goal, but they were playing from behind by the third period after goals from Barzal and Jean-Gabriel Pageau put the New York Islanders ahead as they fought for their playoff lives.

Jarvis got to a Brent Burns rebound on the power play before Barzal held off Brady Skjei on the right wing, deked for space and beat Frederik Andersen from distance to answer.

With the Islanders on the power play to start the third period, Andersen blockered down a Noah Dobson shot right to Pageau on the far side. Noesen answered with a power-play goal, redirecting a Teuvo Teravainen shot past Semyon Varlamov.

Andersen was strong early, stopping Pierre Engvall from point-blank range and a Dobson shot through traffic, but the Hurricanes drew the game’s first penalty when Anders Lee tripped Jalen Chatfield in the neutral zone — and Jarvis converted.

A fourth for Freddie in Game 4

What tipped Rod Brind’Amour toward starting Andersen in a fourth straight game, even with a short turnaround from Game 3 to a 2 p.m. start in Game 4?

“It was more talking to Freddie, to see where he was at,” the Hurricanes coach said Saturday morning.

Brind’Amour acknowledged Friday it was worth discussing whether it made sense to start Pyotr Kochetkov in the potential series-clincher on Saturday, especially after Andersen started three consecutive games for the first time all season. But in the end, the decision to stick with Andersen after he preserved a 3-2 win with 11 third-period saves, was not a difficult one.

“The day off helps make that decision,” Brind’Amour said. “He’s obviously playing well and feeling good. No reason not to throw him in there.”

Andersen stopped 65 of 71 shots in the three wins over the Islanders, posting a 2.01 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.

No Martin for Isles

Matt Martin, 16th all-time in playoff appearances for the Islanders, missed Game 4 with a “lower body” injury, Islanders coach Patrick Roy said Saturday. Ruslan Iskhakov replaced him on the Islanders’ fourth line with Kyle MacLean and Cal Clutterbuck.

“If he wasn’t injured, he would play,” Roy said. “So much respect for what he has brought to this organization and the way he’s been playing. But sometimes these things happen and every team is subject to those, but this gives an opportunity for others to step up.”

Bulking up

The Hurricanes added another depth forward Friday when they recalled Ryan Suzuki from Springfield (AHL). Suzuki joins forwards Maxime Comtois, Jackson Blake and Bradly Nadeau and defensemen Dylan Coghlan, Scott Morrow and Ronan Seeley among players the Hurricanes have signed or called up to flesh out their roster.

Coghlan, Morrow and Comtois traveled with the team to Long Island for Games 3 and 4.

Tailwinds

Sebastian Aho went into Game 4 one game-winning goal (five) behind Brind’Amour (six) for the franchise playoff lead after his goal sealed the Game 3 win. ... This was the third time since relocation the Hurricanes have taken a 3-0 lead in a series: They swept the Islanders in 2019 and lost Game 4 against the New Jersey Devils in 2006 before closing out the series in five games.