The Islanders Got Really Mad About a Hurricanes' Empty Net Goal After an Epic Collapse

Stephen Douglas | Apr 23, 2024

Apr 22, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Stefan Noesen (23) and / James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Hurricanes staged a dramatic comeback in Game 2 of their first round Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the New York Islanders. The Islanders were up 3-0 midway through the second period, 3-1 midway through the third and 3-2 with three minutes left in the game. The Canes won 5-3.

Carolina now has a 2-0 lead in the series and if you think blowing that kind of lead is the kind of thing that would greatly frustrate a team, you are correct. Watch as Jake Guentzel scored on an empty net to put the game away with less than a minute remaining. Watch as Brock Nelson repeatedly slashes his arm before and after the goal and then Kyle Palmieri tries to fight him.

GUENTZEL ICES GAME 2 FOR THE CANES 🥶 pic.twitter.com/o8WXcP9QIj

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 23, 2024

Empty net goals are just straight up against the unwritten rules I guess? Because a normal person watching this might think that scoring a goal in this situation seemed almost... necessary? Adding just a little context can confirm that.

Remember how the Islanders actually had a 3-2 lead two minutes earlier? Well, the Hurricanes pulled their goalie and tied the game with an extra skater on the ice. Maybe if the Islanders had taken advantage of the empty net they wouldn't have given up two goals in nine seconds and lost.

And maybe they wouldn't look like such babies in the process. Down two goals and facing an 0-2 series deficit, the Islanders continued to try and muck it up until the final whistle. New York would earn another seven penalties in the final seconds of the game, including misconduct for Mike Martin who tried to get into a fight with Stefan Noesen who threw him on the ice instead.

Bro thought he did something then got tossed like a ragdoll pic.twitter.com/hkvyJULX0t

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 23, 2024

The series will resume on Thursday night. If things don't go the Islanders' way early, expect more of this and don't expect it to stop until everyone lines up for the handshake line to promote good sportsmanship.