RALEIGH, N.C. – The new season started with great expectations for the Islanders, and, finally, a sense of some normalcy with an 82-game schedule and full arenas. But it didn’t start with a cohesive effort.
Mathew Barzal’s top line with a healthy Anders Lee and Kyle Palmieri was dangerous all game. But the Islanders weren’t careful enough with the puck, strong enough defensively or good enough on special teams in a 6-3 loss to the Hurricanes on Thursday night before 18,680 at PNC Arena in the season opener to begin a franchise-record, 13-game road trip.
The Islanders were 0-for-3 on the power play and didn’t provide enough support for goalie Ilya Sorokin (35 saves).