NEWSLETTER
12 hours later and I’m still scrolling the internet watching replays of Jordan Martinook’s game-winner for the Hurricanes last night. The Hurricanes and Islanders game was just another example of why the Stanley Cup Playoffs are so damn awesome.
In case you missed it, the Islanders jumped out to an early lead and controlled Game 2 on the road in Raleigh. The Isles followed the PERFECT playoff road game formula for a win. They weathered the early storm and kept the Hurricanes off the board in the first 10 minutes. Kyle Palmieri scored late in the first to make it 1-0 Islanders. Bo Horvat netted a gut-punch of a goal at 19:45 in the first to make it 2-0 after the period.
In the second period, the Isles got an early power play and Anders Lee scored to prevent any momentum from swinging Carolina’s way. It was all Islanders and they looked like they were well on their way to tying the series 1-1 and heading back to Long Island.
ANOTHER FOR THE ISLES 👀
Look at the soft hands here on Anders Lee (@leeberr09)! #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/InQFPRruHf— NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2024
But then playoff hockey happened. Teuvo Teravainen (I miss him) gave the Canes life with a PPG before the end of the second. Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho scored seven minutes apart in the third period to tie it. Then, nine seconds after Aho tied it, Jordan Martinook blew the roof off PNC Arena.
Hurricanes Grab Late 4-3 Lead:
THE CANES TAKE THE LEAD 9 SECONDS LATER 🤯
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 23, 2024
PANDEMONIUM IN RALEIGH 😱 pic.twitter.com/QJPwWwOYxG
Unreal. The Canes tacked on an empty netter and took a 2-0 series lead with a 5-3 win.
It’s moments like that that make me miss playoff hockey at the United Center. All of the emotions. The excitement, the tension, the hope, the elation. It’s been way too long since we’ve gotten to experience that at a Hawks game at the UC. Thankfully, Kyle Davidson seems like he’s on the right track to get us back there. And I just can’t wait.
