The expectation is the Islanders will be mentally sharper for Sunday’s Game 2 of their second-round series against the Hurricanes than they were in their 1-0 overtime loss in Game 1 at Barclays Center.
Otherwise, the Islanders will leave Brooklyn as the series shifts to Carolina for Game 3 on Wednesday night and Game 4 on Friday night, in a bigger deficit.
Friday night’s loss in Game 1 was the Islanders’ first game since completing their first-round sweep of the Penguins with a 3-1 win at Pittsburgh on April 16. The Hurricanes ousted the defending Stanley Cup-champion Capitals with a 4-3 double overtime win at Washington in Game 7 on Wednesday night.