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LATE FLURRY NOT ENOUGH, CANES TOPPLE ISLES


Oleg Tverdovsky of the New York Islanders battles Ivan Huml of the
Carolina Hurricanes for a loose puck Monday. The Islanders went on to
drop a 5-4 decision to the Hurricanes.

UNIONDALE, NY - Jordan Leopold scored with the extra attacker to draw the Islanders within one but a late rally wasn't enough as the Isles dropped their second straight.

The Islanders outshot the Hurricanes by a 11-5 margin in the third period but it wasn't enough as Byron Dafoe, a former Islander, turned aside every shot but one in the last minute to help his team escape with the two points.

The game remained close throughout as the Isles took a 2-0 lead in the first period only to have the Canes answer with their own pair to end the period.

The teams would trade second period goals to go into the third period tied at 3-3, but two late goals by the Hurricanes a minute and a half apart put the Hurricanes up by a pair with less than 3 minutes remaining in the game.

With Jocelyn Thibault on the bench and the extra attacker on the ice, Jordan Leopold's shot from the slot drew the Islanders within one with under a minute to go but the goal would be a little too late with the Hurricanes hanging on for the victory in the dying seconds.

Oleg Tverdovsky, Keith Ballard, David Vyborny, and Jordan Leopold scored for the Islanders while Alexander Ovechkin, Mike Comrie, Stephane Yelle, Mike Komisarek, and Wayne Primeau answered for the Hurricanes.

Jocelyn Thibault was pulled for his second straight game after Primeau scored in the third a minute after Komisarek gave Carolina the lead.

Neither team's powerplays clicked for any goals as both teams went 0 for 2 on the night with the man advantage.

The Islanders are in Florida tomorrow evening where they'll face the Panthers who defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins this evening.

Game Notes - Sergei Gonchar continues to struggle as an Islander and failed to tally any points on the night... Tverdovsky had a goal and two assists and was named the game's second star in a losing cause... The newly formed trio of Huselius-Hudler-Hossa has been disappointing thus far and will likely get split up in tomorrow's game against the Panthers.