Islanders 4, Hurricanes 1
Brock Nelson scored to record his fourth goal and seventh point in three games against Carolina this season as visiting New York skated to its fifth win in six contests.
Rookie Anders Lee netted a power-play tally and Michael Grabner scored in his return from injured reserve for the Islanders, who began the campaign with a home-and-home series sweep of their Metropolitan Division rival. Captain John Tavares added his team-leading 28th goal by scoring into an empty net and added an assist while Chad Johnson finished with 37 saves to improve to 4-0-0 lifetime versus the Hurricanes.
Jiri Tlusty scored his fourth goal against New York this season for Carolina, which fell for the sixth time in nine games (3-4-2). The Hurricanes failed to convert on both power-play opportunities after going 3-for-5 in a 6-3 victory over Ottawa on Monday.
Frans Nielsen picked up the first of his two assists when his shot from the right faceoff circle deflected off the stick of Lee, who quickly backhanded the puck between the pads of Anton Khudobin (26 saves) with 2:54 remaining in the first period to open the scoring. Nelson continued to torch the Hurricanes as his wrist shot from the right circle slipped past Khudobin at 6:58 of the second and Grabner used his considerable speed to score on a partial breakaway at 7:09 of the third for a 3-0 lead.
Tlusty tallied at 11:14 to end Johnson's bid for his fourth career shutout and first this season. Nathan Gerbe nearly got Carolina within one, but his apparent goal was waved off due to a high stick, and Tavares sealed the win - and extended his goal-scoring streak to three games - with an empty-net tally.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Nelson recorded two goals and two assists in New York's 5-3 win over Carolina on Oct. 9 before adding one of each in the 4-3 victory versus the Hurricanes the following night. Tlusty notched an assist in the first meeting before registering his second career hat trick on Oct. 10. ... Lee has collected four goals and five assists in his last six games. ... New York C Casey Cizikas sat out with a lower-body injury.