Hurricanes 3, Islanders 2 (OT)
Erik Cole tied the game late in the third period and defenseman Joni Pitkanen scored at 3:58 of overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes rallied for a 3-2 triumph over the visiting New York Islanders on Friday.
Rookie Jeff Skinner recorded a goal and an assist while fellow All-Star Cam Ward made 35 saves for the Hurricanes, who had lost three straight at home and five of six overall.
Frans Nielsen and rookie Michael Grabner each had a goal and an assist while Al Montoya stopped 32 shots for New York, which lost its sixth straight away from home and fell to 0-1-2 on its five-game road trip.
Cory Stillman pounced on Nielsen's turnover behind the net late in the third and set up Cole, who beat Montoya from the doorstep with 4:38 remaining for his 20th goal. In the extra session, Skinner dished the puck to Pitkanen, who one-timed it past Montoya from the top of the left faceoff circle for the win.
Just 79 seconds after Skinner opened the scoring, Nielsen forged a 1-1 tie by backhanding a rebound past Ward with 2:08 to play in the first period.
Grabner, who leads all rookies in goals, put the Islanders ahead at 3:10 of the second with his 29th of the season.