The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a stunning comeback in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders. Trailing by three goals, the Hurricanes rallied late in the third period to secure a 5-3 victory and take a 2-0 series lead.
Sebastian Aho and Jordan Martinook were the heroes of the night, scoring just 9 seconds apart to complete the improbable comeback. Aho tied the game at 3 by redirecting a shot from Andrei Svechnikov with 2:15 remaining. Martinook then gave the Hurricanes the lead with a wraparound attempt that deflected off Semyon Varlamov's skate and into the net.
The Hurricanes sealed the win with an empty-net goal from Jake Guentzel in the final minute, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The victory was a bitter pill for the Islanders, who had built a 3-0 lead early in the second period on goals from Kyle Palmieri, Bo Horvat, and Anders Lee.
Despite the Islanders' strong start, the momentum shifted after Teuvo Teravainen scored on a power play to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Hurricanes dominated the shot count, finishing with a 39-12 advantage, and kept the pressure on Varlamov throughout the game.
The series now moves to New York for the next two games, with Game 3 scheduled for Thursday night. The Islanders will look to regroup and bounce back after the heartbreaking loss in Game 2.
With the Hurricanes firing on all cylinders and the Islanders reeling, the stage is set for an intense battle as the series unfolds. Fans can expect more thrilling action as these two teams continue to fight for a spot in the next round of the playoffs.
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