Hurricanes edge Islanders, pad Metropolitan Division lead

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Jordan Martinook scored in the third period for the Carolina Hurricanes, who extended their lead in the Metropolitan Division with a 2-1 win against the New York Islanders at PNC Arena on Sunday.

The Hurricanes moved three points ahead of the New Jersey Devils for first place in the division. New Jersey lost 6-1 at the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.
"We have a job to do. We want to finish as high as we can," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "But [New York] is playing for their lives. I thought we looked like the team that was maybe a little more desperate. I think that says a lot about the group for me."
Frederik Andersen made 21 saves for the Hurricanes (49-18-9), who have won two in a row following an 0-2-1 stretch.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for the Islanders, (39-30-9), who have lost two in a row. Ilya Sorokin made 33 saves in his second straight start after being pulled in the second period of a 5-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
"Chances were few and far between, but we were one shot away," Islanders coach Lane Lambert said. "I thought some of the scoring chances they had we clearly made mistakes on. We could've done a little better job in that area."
New York is one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and two points ahead of the Florida Panthers for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Penguins and Panthers each have one game in hand.
"We've just got to regroup," Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock said. "There's still four games left, and we need to find a way to win. That's what we're looking to do. We have some days to rest and regroup and get ready to go."
Martinook gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead at 2:31 of the third period, holding the puck on a 2-on-1 with Sebastian Aho and scoring on a wrist shot over Ilya Sorokin's blocker. It was Martinook's first goal in 25 games.

Andersen preserved the lead late in the period when he made a blocker save on Islanders forward Bo Horvat during a power play.
"You try to stay with it and try to make the next save and trust the guys are going to keep playing the way they did," said Andersen, who had lost his previous three starts. "Obviously, I got rewarded finally. We played a little more to our identity, and I think that showed how we've got to play."
Pageau gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 17:33 of the first period, scoring on a one-timer off a pass from Pierre Engvall.
"We did some good things, we had a good effort," Pageau said. "I thought we were with them the whole way. I think we've just got to stick with it, finish the season strong."
Jesperi Kotkaniemi tied it 1-1 at 9:27 of the second, squeaking a shot through Sorokin from the right circle off a pass from Jesse Puljujarvi. The assist was Puljujarvi's first point in 11 games with the Hurricanes since being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 28.
"For our line, we finally got one, which was great," Kotkaniemi said. "[Puljujarvi] got his first point. He's been playing really good lately, creating a lot. Big win tonight."

NOTES: Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov missed the game with an undisclosed injury. … The Islanders are 0-for-9 on the power play in their past five games. … Carolina forward Teuvo Teravainen missed his third straight game with an illness. … The Hurricanes are 9-2-2 in second games of back to backs. They defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 on Saturday.