Hurricanes Wipe Out, Shut Out Islanders 4-0
RALEIGH, NC -- The New York Islanders were shut out for the fifth time this season, falling 4-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on Tuesday.
Ilya Sorokin was pulled for the second time in seven games, with the Islanders doing a brutal job at protecting him.
On the other end, Pyotr Kochetkov made 32 saves for his first shutout since March 30.
Here's how the game unfolded:
Like clockwork, the Islanders took a first-period penalty for the seventh time in their last eight games after defenseman Alexander Romanov went to the box for high-sticking after the whistle at 5:12 of the first.
The Hurricanes made Romanov and the Islanders pay, as Andrei Svechnikov cut to the net and beat Sorokin five-hole for his third power-play goal in two games against Long Island:
Svech is making power moves 💪 pic.twitter.com/80Sx4uqVDE
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) December 18, 2024
The Islanders have killed off just 2-of-7 first-period power plays against over their last eight games.
Carolina doubled their lead at 8:21 of the first after defenseman Noah Dobson allowed Jordan Martinook to get the back post, where the Hurricanes forward buried a rebound for the 2-0 score:
A Marty party don't stop! pic.twitter.com/PQ41lrl72q
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) December 18, 2024
The Islanders had one power play of their own but mustered just one shot.
Despite having the shooting advantage, 14-11, they were horrific defensively and missed some prime scoring chances.
The second period saw more of the same. Pierre Engvall did have a chance after driving the net, but Kochetkov stopped the puck from squeaking through the five-hole.
Then, Fasching had his second chance of the game in tight after a great read to pick off a pass but sailed the shot wide.
Tyson Jost extended Carolina's lead to 3-0 at 11:13 of the third after he buried a rebound from the low slot after Sorokin made two saves prior:
We simply wouldn't be denied pic.twitter.com/D6JekvB7cJ
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) December 18, 2024
With 15.1 seconds to play in the second, Dennis Cholowski got caught up the ice, and Sebastian Aho buried a 2-on-1 feed from Eric Robinson to extend the Hurricanes' lead to 4-0:
Now this is just beautiful hockey 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/KsApZn76Qt
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) December 18, 2024
Marcus Hogberg came in to relieve Sorokin after he stopped 19 of 23 shots.
Sorokin has been pulled for the second time in his last seven starts. Made 19 saves on 23 shots.
Hogberg comes in for a second relief appearance. Made all 13 saves in their 5-2 loss to #SeaKraken on Dec. 5.— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) December 18, 2024
The Islanders' loss by four goals was their biggest margin of defeat this season.
UP NEXT: The Islanders battle the Toronto Maple Leafs north of the border on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET.