Hurricanes top Islanders in OT to end skid, gain in wild-card race

UNIONDALE, N.Y. --Vincent Trocheck scored a power-play goal at 1:36 of overtime and the Carolina Hurricanes moved within two points of the New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference wild-card race with a 3-2 win at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday.

Trocheck batted in a rebound after Andrei Svechnikov knocked down Sebastian Aho's shot from the right circle. The goal was confirmed after a video review determined that Svechnikov's stick was below the normal height of his shoulders when he made contact with the puck.
Joel Edmundson and Justin Williams scored, and Anton Forsberg made 24 saves for Carolina (36-25-5), which won for the first time in five games (1-3-1). The Hurricanes are two points behind the Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets for the first wild card.
WATCH: [All Hurricanes vs. Islanders highlights]
Trocheck's goal was his first in five games with the Hurricanes since he was traded from the Florida Panthers on Feb. 24.
"I wasn't getting any bounces these first few games," Trocheck said. "To finally get one, and for it to be an OT winner, it's definitely something that I'll remember."

Ryan Pulock and Josh Bailey scored for the Islanders (35-23-9), who are 0-3-3 in their past six games. Thomas Greiss made 25 saves.
"You hate to see it end like that; that was a good hockey game," New York captain Anders Lee said. "That doesn't sit well at all. I know there's a rule, an explanation, we'll know why. But I'm watching that over there thinking we're turning this around, we got a draw. Their team is drawing up another play. A lot of uncertainty on that one and I'm sure we'll figure it out, but that's just a tough way to lose a game."

New York was awarded a power play with 52 seconds left in the third period, but Mathew Barzal received a double minor for high sticking against Carolina center Jordan Staal with 24 seconds remaining.
"A little bit of a cardinal sin at the end," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "You can't take a penalty that late in the game as you're going into overtime. That's a little bit on us there."
Edmundson gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead at 6:16 of the third when he tapped in a loose puck in front of the net after Teuvo Teravainen's shot from the right circle deflected off the skate of Islanders defenseman Andy Greene.

Bailey tied it 2-2 when he scored on a rebound of Noah Dobson's wraparound attempt at 15:02 of the third.
"The last 30 minutes of our game was good," Trotz said. "I think we had them on our heels. They got an opportunity to go up 2-1, our bench was good, we stayed with it. A real good play by [Dobson] and [Bailey] finishing on the goal. A real huge point when you're down and you haven't been winning lately."

The Hurricanes scored first for the first time in seven games when Williams redirected Hadyn Fleury's shot for a 1-0 lead at 13:22 of the first period.
"We've been struggling on that," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said of scoring first. "Even if we've played well, we haven't been able to score and get ahead. It just relaxes you.
"We have a mess-up, they get it tied up, but the game's still right there. We're not chasing it, and I think that's an easier way to play, that's for sure."
Pulock extended his goal streak to three games and tied it 1-1 at 5:15 of the second period on a one-timer from the slot after Lee stripped Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei.

They said it

"When you lose a few in a row, you just really need to grind one out. That's what we said after the second (period), just stay in it, grind it out, be patient. If it takes 25 (minutes), it takes 25. I think it's a big win for our club. We'll see." - Hurricanes forward Justin Williams
"We're in a playoff spot right now. There's a lot of hockey left. We played a good game tonight. There's nothing lost here, other than a point. We had a good effort tonight, and we go on the road and we make it right." -- Islanders captain Anders Lee

Need to know

Carolina has won all three games against New York this season. The teams will play again at Barclays Center on March 22. … Brind'Amour said Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek, who sustained a concussion Feb. 22, is feeling better but won't play in the next couple of games. … Islanders forward Andrew Ladd had three hits and one shot on goal in 11:21 of ice time in his third NHL game this season. He replaced forward Cal Clutterbuck (undisclosed). … Trotz said he expects center Casey Cizikas (lacerated leg) and defenseman Johnny Boychuk (eye) to make the upcoming road trip, which begins against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

What's next

Hurricanes: At the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday (1:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, FS-CR, NHL.TV)
Islanders:At the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SNP, MSG+, NHL.TV)