Carolina Hurricanes Take Game 1 Against Islanders with 3-1 Victory

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Islanders 3-1 in Game 1 of their NHL playoff series on Saturday. Stefan Noesen scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period, while goaltender Frederik Andersen made 34 saves to backstop the Hurricanes to the win.

The Islanders struck first, with rookie Kyle MacLean scoring in the opening period to tie the game 1-1. But the Hurricanes responded, as Evgeny Kuznetsov converted on the power play just 95 seconds into his postseason debut with the franchise. Kuznetsov, acquired by Carolina in a trade last month, made an immediate impact.

Despite being outshot 34-26, the Hurricanes were able to withstand the Islanders' pressure. Andersen came up with several key saves, including a crucial stop while down in the crease during the third period to preserve Carolina's lead. "We've got to do a better job of helping him out," Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei said of Andersen. "But he made the big saves when he needed to."

Why this matters: As the Stanley Cup favorites, the Hurricanes are looking to make a deep playoff run this year. Taking Game 1 against a tough Islanders team is an important first step. The series could be a close, hard-fought battle if the opener is any indication.

The Hurricanes were also missing forward Jesper Fast, who suffered a neck strain. The Islanders played without center Jean-Gabriel Pageau due to a lower-body injury. Game 2 of the best-of-7 first-round series is scheduled for Monday night in Raleigh. Martin Necas sealed the Game 1 victory for Carolina with an empty-net goal in the final minute. "That's what Freddie does for us," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said of Andersen's performance. "Obviously we weren't at our best for two periods, for sure, but he allows us to hang in there."

Key Takeaways

• Hurricanes beat Islanders 3-1 in Game 1 of NHL playoff series
• Kuznetsov scored on power play in Hurricanes debut, Noesen had go-ahead goal
• Andersen made 34 saves for Hurricanes, Islanders outshot them 34-26
• Hurricanes missing Forward Jesper Fast, Islanders missing Center Pageau
• Game 2 scheduled for Monday, Hurricanes looking to make deep playoff run