The New York Islanders secured a crucial victory in Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes, winning 3-2 in double overtime to prevent a series sweep. Mathew Barzal emerged as a hero with two goals, including the game-winner just 1:24 into the second overtime period.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau also contributed a goal for the Islanders, while goaltender Semyon Varlamov stood tall with 42 saves, including 18 in the overtime periods, to keep his team alive in the playoffs.
Carolina's Seth Jarvis and Stefan Noesen found the back of the net, with Frederik Andersen making 33 saves for the Hurricanes. The series now stands at 3-1 in favor of Carolina, with Game 5 set to take place in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Islanders' victory was sealed by Barzal's deflection off a shot from Robert Bortuzzo, marking the team's first overtime goal in the playoffs since 2021. Both teams had opportunities in the extra periods, with Varlamov and Andersen showcasing their skills between the pipes.
Pageau capitalized on a power play early in the third period to give the Islanders the lead, only for Noesen to equalize for the Hurricanes with a power-play goal of their own. The tightly contested game saw the Islanders and Hurricanes trading blows, with momentum swinging back and forth.
The Islanders came out strong in the first period but fell behind to an early power-play goal by Jarvis. Barzal's goal in the second period leveled the score, setting the stage for a thrilling finish in overtime.
Notably, Islanders forward Matt Martin was sidelined due to a lower-body injury, with Ruslan Iskhakov stepping in to fill the void. The series now heads back to Carolina for Game 5, where the Hurricanes will look to close out the series, while the Islanders aim to extend their playoff run.
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