The only Islanders goal that counted on Sunday was put in by a Hurricane, when Jaccob Slavin accidentally tipped Mathew Barzal’s pass attempt into the Carolina net. But the Islanders had many chances to score goals on their own. Many, many chances. They converted none, resulting in a 2-1 loss and 2-0 deficit in the teams’ second-round playoff series. “That’s the cruel reality,” coach Barry Trotz said. “Sometimes you play really well and don’t get the result.” Said Josh Bailey, “That’s just the way it goes sometimes. I think in the end those things usually even themselves out, so we’ll get our bounces, too.” They had better, because they need four wins in their next five games to advance. In the first period on Sunday at Barclays Center, there were many missed opportunities, several by Anthony Beauvillier. Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. In the second, Scott Mayfield had backup goalie Curtis McElhinney in an impossible predicament, but he mishit his shot and it resulted in a harmless right pad save. Later in the second, it appeared the Islanders had taken a 2-0 lead, but Devon Toews’ apparent goal was ruled no goal because it got past McElhinney with the help of a kicking motion from Toews’ right skate. But the most maddening period was the third. Jordan Eberle hit the crossbar. Then Ryan Pulock hit the crossbar and Anders Lee’s followup attempt hit the post and/or the side of the net. The Islanders mostly had the better of the play between two teams known for their defense, other than the 48 seconds during which the Hurricanes scored two early third-period goals. “There were chances,” Matt Martin said. “In terms of changing the way we’re playing, that’s not the answer. We’re playing to our identity, like we did for most of the night. We just have to find a way to bury our chances when we have them . . . We just have to find a way to find the back of the net and once that happens, we’ll be all right.” Said Pulock, “We had plenty of opportunities at the end to get one and it was close, but it wasn’t enough . . . He made some good saves but we hit three, four bars.” Trotz likes to call hockey’s random mysteries the “unseen hand.” In the first round against the Penguins, it helped wave the Islanders through. For now against Carolina, it is holding up a stop sign.<doc-sep>The Islanders were defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes, 2-1, in Game 2 of their second round series in the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, April 28, 2019, at Barclays Center. The Islanders skate off the ice after game two of the Eastern Conference second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019. Matt Martin #17 of the Islanders helps teammate Cal Clutterbuck #15 off the ice after game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019 in New York City. Robin Lehner #40 of the Islanders skates off the ice after game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019 in New York City. The Islanders' Ryan Pulock getting pressure from the Carolina Hurricanes' Patrick Brown in the 2nd period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' head coach Barry Trotz talking with referee Derek Amell in the 2nd period while playing the Carolina Hurricanes during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' goalie Robin Lehner making a stop against the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2nd period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Scott Mayfield could not get enough on the puck to score against Carolina Hurricanes' Curtis McElhinney in the 2nd period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Brock Nelson watches as the Carolina Hurricanes' Warren Foegele jumps for the puck in the 2nd period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Scott Mayfield shoots the puck while getting defensive pressure from the Carolina Hurricanes' Saku Maenalanen and Dougie Hamilton in the 2nd period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Brock Nelson plays the puck from his knees while getting defensive pressure from the Carolina Hurricanes' Patrick Brown and Clark Bishop in the 2nd period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' goalie Robin Lehner makes a stop against the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2nd period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' head coach Barry Trotz talking with referee Derek Amell in the 2nd period while playing the Carolina Hurricanes during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Mathew Barzal celebrates with teammate Jordan Eberle after scoring against the Carolina Hurricanes during a power play in the 1st period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Anthony Beauvillier falls over goalie Petr Mrazek of the Carolina Hurricanes as he make a stop in the 1st period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Mathew Barzal celebrates with teammate Jordan Eberle and Anders Lee after scoring against the Carolina Hurricanes during a power play in the 1st period in game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Mathew Barzal scores against the Carolina Hurricanes during a power play in the 1st period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Mathew Barzal celebrates after scoring against the Carolina Hurricanes during a power play in the 1st period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Anders Lee makes an attempt for a goal while getting pressure from Carolina Hurricanes' Justin Faulk with goalie Petr Mrazek making a stop in the 1st period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' Ryan Pulock, Tom Kuhnhackl, Brock Nelson and Adam Pelech putting pressure on the Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal in the 1st period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. New York Islanders' Thomas Hickey fighting off the Carolina Hurricanes' Brock McGinn for the puck in the 1st period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. The Islanders' goalie Robin Lehner making a stop on Warren Foegele of the Carolina Hurricanes with Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech there for the rebound in the 1st period during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. Mathew Barzal #13 of the Islanders celebrates his first period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes with his teammates during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. Robin Lehner #40 of the Islanders defends the net during the first period against Warren Foegele #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at the Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. Mathew Barzal #13 of the Islanders celebrates his first period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes with his teammates during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn. Mathew Barzal #13 of the Islanders celebrates his first period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes with his teammates during game two of the Eastern Conference second round in the Stanley Cup playoffs at Barclays Center on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Brooklyn.<doc-sep>Every time things seem to be piling up against Carolina, the bunch of jerks finds a way to gut it out. The Hurricanes suffered more injuries than they did score goals on Sunday, and yet still pulled away with a 2–1 win in Game 2 to take a 2–0 series lead back to Raleigh. Carolina already had Andrei Svechnikov (concussion), Micheal Ferland (upper body) and Jordan Martinook (lower body) sidelined with injuries before Game 2 started, but three more would join them before Sunday was over. Defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk took a big hit from Cal Clutterbuck on the first shift and left the ice clutching his shoulder; goaltender Petr Mrazek appeared to pull something while making a save in the second period and left with a lower-body injury; and forward Saku Maenalanen left with an upper-body injury early in the third. The Hurricanes have somehow pulled through as their lineup continues to be depleted, but will Mrazek’s injury be the dagger after being one of the team’s best players this postseason? Well, not according to Curtis McElhinney, who stopped all 17 shots he faced in relief of Mrazek. Rod Brind’Amour successfully utilized Mrazek and McElhinney as a goalie tandem throughout the regular season, but it was Mrazek’s hot streak that he chose to ride into the playoffs. McElhinney entered the game with the Hurricanes down 1–0, and even without having played since the end of the regular season, he immediately made huge stops to keep his team in this all-out defensive battle. It was the 35-year-old netminder's first-ever postseason win in his career. Despite the shortened bench, the Hurricanes pounced with two goals in the opening 1:05 of the third period. The first came 17 seconds in thanks to Warren Foegele, who had just 10 goals during the regular season but has already scored five so far this postseason. Nino Niederreiter followed up 48 seconds later, deflecting a shot from Teuvo Teravainen and scoring what would prove to be the game-winner. The Islanders scored their only goal of the series when Mathew Barzal capitalized on the power play midway through the first, but it wasn’t a pretty goal by any means. Barzal was trying to pass to Josh Bailey through the crease but Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin got his stick on it and it went past Mrazek. That would be the only lucky bounce the Islanders would get in the game. Devon Toews thought he scored in the second period when he kicked a rebound from below the goal line that went off McElhinney and into the net, but it was waved off. Shots rang off McElhinney's goal post all throughout the third period, but none of the shots would find their way into the net. Brind’Amour told reporters after the game that van Riemsdyk would not be returning “any time soon,” but did not give an update on Mrazek or Maenalanen. Svechnikov, Ferland and Martinook could all be on the verge of returning for the Hurricanes, which is bad news for the Islanders as they continue to try pull out a win of their own in this series. Though the injuries keep piling up for Carolina, so do the wins.<doc-sep>
In the end, all of the Islanders’ close calls, the shots off the crossbar and post, the disallowed goal, didn’t matter. Neither did the parade of injuries suffered by the Hurricanes, who lost defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk on the first shift, No. 1 goalie Petr Mrazek in the second period and right wing Saku Maenalanen in the third. The reality is the Islanders are headed to Carolina trailing 2-0 in their second-round series after the Hurricanes rallied with two goals in the first 1:05 of the third period for a 2-1 win in Sunday afternoon’s Game 2 at Barclays Center. “They had 48 seconds of pretty good hockey,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. He did not mean that as sour grapes but as an acknowledgment that after two one-goal losses, the Islanders very much feel as if they’re still in this series. The Hurricanes won Game 1 on Friday night, 1-0, in overtime. Game 3 is Wednesday night in Raleigh, North Carolina. “This isn’t the position we wanted to be in,” said left wing Josh Bailey, who hit the post on a third-period power-play chance. “It’s two one-goal games that could’ve gone either way. “They’ve got a good team, no question about it,” Bailey added. “Both goalies played really well. They play very structured, similar to us. You can’t let the frustration take over. I think we’ve found a way to frustrate teams throughout the season and the playoffs. We’re going to have to find a way to frustrate them and take it to them a little bit.” Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. Robin Lehner made 16 saves for the Islanders. Curtis McElhinney relieved Mrazek at 6:27 of the second period and stopped all 17 shots he faced. Mrazek, who was forced out of the game with a lower-body injury, slammed his stick as he left for the locker room and appeared in discomfort after stopping defenseman Ryan Pulock’s hard shot earlier in the period. But rookie Warren Foegele beat Lehner over his right shoulder from the right faceoff circle to tie the score 17 seconds into the third period and former Islander Nino Niederreiter made it 2-1 by deflecting Teuvo Teravainen’s shot from the left point at 1:05. “Other than that, they didn’t have a whole lot for the game,” Trotz said. “I think we played a pretty complete game.” “I think we’ve got to realize that every moment counts,” Pulock said. “I guess, right out of the gate [in the third period], maybe we weren’t that sharp. They had momentum and they got another. We just have to be ready a little better than that. But for the most part, I liked our game.” The Islanders ended the second period with defenseman Devon Toews’ apparent goal with 13.2 seconds left being waved off because of a kicking motion, even though he was below the goal line. “It was the right call,” Trotz said. The Islanders pressed the attack the rest of the third period after falling behind. Jordan Eberle hit the crossbar from low in the slot at 12:28. Pulock also hit the crossbar at 18:58 with Lehner off for an extra skater, and Anders Lee’s backhand on the rebound went off the outside of the post. “It’s tough,” Lee said of the Hurricanes’ two quick goals. “It put us down the rest of the third, but we had opportunities. That’s got to be tied up at the end on my end.” “We were just millimeters away,” Pulock said. “There’s a lot of hockey left here.” Mathew Barzal put the Islanders ahead 1-0 at 13:17 of the first period with his first career playoff goal after he had five assists in the four-game sweep of the Penguins in the first round. Barzal, playing off the left post, tried to thread a pass through the crease and the puck deflected past Mrazek off the stick of Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin. Mrazek faced 10 shots before being forced from the game. The Hurricanes, already without forwards Andrei Svechnikov, Jordan Martinook and Micheal Ferland, lost van Riemsdyk to an apparent left shoulder injury off a hard check by Cal Clutterbuck. Maenalanen played two shifts in the third period before leaving with an upper-body injury. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said his team “gutted it out.” So far, they are winning the war of attrition.