The Isles avoided the sweep thanks to Barzal and Bortuzzo.
The New York Islanders stayed alive with a double-overtime win in Game 4 over the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a thriller in every sense of the word, and they extended their season to at least Game 5 Tuesday night in Raleigh.
Keep rolling.
Islanders News: Mostly Game 4 Stuff
- Mathew Barzal had two goals, including the double-OT winner, tipping home a shot from an unlikely source: Robert Bortuzzo, whose third-period penalty nearly blew it all. [LHH]
- Patrick Roy was proud of his group. [3 Takeaways]
- J-G Pageau, who had the go-ahead goal in the third, played a fantastic game. [Islanders]
- They still have belief. [Newsday]
- Semyon Varlamov was stellar on his 36th birthday. [Newsday | NY Post]
- It was a chippy game throughout, including toward the end of overtime. [NY Post]
- The Islanders withstood the Canes’ relentless attack and swarm and special teams. [The Athletic]
- Cinematic recap. [Islanders]
- Barzal showcased his unique talents as a star on the first goal, cutting back and fooling Brady Skjei. [Newsday]
- It had been a relatively quiet series for Barzal prior to Game 4—Carolina has a way of smothering offense. But stars work to overcome that, and he did. [NY Post]
- Barzal came to play. [The Athletic]
- It was his second career playoff overtime goal, and he walked through it today with the media. [THN]
- Anders Lee has been a driving force these playoffs. [NHL]
- Matt Martin was too hurt to dress but would’ve if he could’ve, according to Roy. The win means he may yet again. [Newsday]
- That was the 10th-longest game in Isles history. [NYI Skinny]
MATHEW BARZAL IN DOUBLE OT WINS IT. pic.twitter.com/Gwj4NdHxQa
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 27, 2024
Elsewhere
Yesterday’s other playoff scores included the Lightning also staving off a sweep, the Bruins going up 3-1 on the Leafs, and the Stars winning in overtime to prevent going down 3-0 on the road.
- Auston Matthews has been battling an illness and missed the third period of the loss. [ESPN]
- The Leafs’ youngest three members of the Core Four were seen bickering on the bench toward the end of the second. Actually, it just looked like Matthews and William Nylander were telling Mitch Marner to grow a pair. [Sportsnet]
- In a must-win game, their offense dried up, as it almost always does in the playoffs. They have scored more than two goals once in their last like 12 or 13 playoff games. [Sportsnet]
- Mikhail Sergachev returned to the lineup for the Bolts, coming back much sooner than expected from a broken leg. [ESPN]
- The Stars dominated the Golden Knights but still needed OT; Wyatt Johnston, at age 20, scored twice, including in OT. [NHL]