Coming into the contest, there were two teams in similar but vastly different positions.
Both teams were coming in on the second half of a back-to-back, but with very different results in those first games.
The New York Islanders had been shutout 5-0 against the Tampa Bay Lightning while the Carolina Hurricanes had shutout the Montreal Canadiens 3-0.
And in terms of desperation, the Isles badly needed a win. Coming into the game, they sat in the first wild card spot, but just three points separated them from there and a second straight year missing the postseason and with just five games remaining.