The Hurricanes took a 2-0 lead over the Islanders in their first-round playoff series with a 4-3 overtime win in Game 2 on Wednesday, but it's tough to blame New York fans for their frustration with how the game ended.
Replay showed what appeared to be an uncalled high-sticking penalty by Carolina's Jordan Martinook, whose stick made contact near the face of Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield.
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Mayfield appeared to take a pretty hard hit and wasn't able to meet with the media after the game as he received medical attention.
Clear as day high stick by Martinook on Mayfield just before Carolina's OT winner. Ref and Linesman both facing the play. Islanders had no powerplays tonight, gotta imagine there's a lot of furious people on Long Island right now and I don't blame them pic.twitter.com/ng6fbDk08M
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) April 20, 2023
Jesper Fast scored the game-winning goal for Carolina shortly after the apparent missed call, with Martinook still on the ice. The Islanders would have had a power play if officials had called Martinook for high-sticking. Carolina had all six of the game's power plays.
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Islanders coach Lane Lambert took the high road in his postgame press conference, telling reporters, "We just have to move onto the next game."
Lane Lambert, asked if it was "bothersome" that there was a missed high-stick on 'Canes winning goal that was no called replies, simply, "Yeah."
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) April 20, 2023
Brock Nelson said he'd never been part of a game where one team had six PPs and the other team had none.
Friday night's Game 3 will be the franchise's first playoff game at UBS Arena, which opened in 2021. New York will need to win that game, or Game 4 at home on Sunday, to avoid a series sweep.