A weird Islanders season came to an end with a weird final goal that eliminated the Isles after six games, sending the Carolina Hurricanes to the second round for the fifth season in a row.
Paul Stastny put the nail in the 2022-23 Islanders’ coffin, six minutes into overtime, with a low-angle heave Ilya Sorokin thought was going wide. Instead, it went in off the right pad of the Islanders goalie, a cruel ending for a sure Vezina finalist who is the main reason the Islanders were still playing on April 28.
The Islanders carried a narrow 1-0 lead into the third period, and again could be pleased with their even strength play up to that point.