They say a series doesn’t start until the home team loses a game, but if this series “starts” in Game 3, it’s almost over.
Jesper Fast’s overtime goal gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 series lead over the New York Islanders.
The Isles rallied from a 2–0 deficit and scored three unanswered goals to take the lead just over nine minutes into the third period, but Carolina tied it again just three minutes later.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Carolina Hurricanes’ Jesper Fast (71) jumps into the arms of Brent Burns (8) to celebrate his game-winning overtime goal against the New York Islanders in Game 2 of a hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series of the NHL in Raleigh, NC, on Wednesday. April 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Karl B. DeBlaker)
Five minutes into the overtime period, Jordan Staal’s cross found the stick of Fast, who spun past Ilya Sorokin, sending the Raleigh crowd into a frenzy.
The series is only two games long and the Islanders have already had two tough losses: Game 1 was exciting from start to finish, resulting in a 2-1 win for the Canes.
Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a goal and celebrates with teammates against the New York Islanders during the third period of the second game of the Eastern Conference first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on April 19, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images)
BRUINS LEGEND ZDENO CHARA FINISHES BOSTON MARATHON IN IMPRESSIVE TIME: ‘THAT GUY IS AN ANIMAL’
This isn’t the first time Fast has been a hater for the Islanders: The winger spent his first seven seasons with the Isles’ arch-rival New York Rangers.
Paul Stastny, Stefan Noesen and Jaccob Slavin were the other scorers for the boys in red, while defender Brett Burns dished out two assists. Kyle Palmieri, Mat Barzal and Brock Nelson scored for New York.
Paul Stastny (26) of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders with Jaccob Slavin (74), Seth Jarvis (24) and Teuvo Teravainen, left, during the first period of Game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup NHL hockey playoff series in Raleigh, NC, Wednesday April 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Karl B. DeBlaker)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The series now moves to Long Island for the next two games — they will be the first playoff games played at UBS Arena, which opened in 2021.
