Islanders beat Hurricanes 3-2, avoid playoff elimination

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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Brock Nelson scored by knocking in an airborne puck that had bounced off the face of Carolina’s Sebastian Aho, and the New York Islanders added two goals that came off turnovers, beating the Hurricanes 3-2 on Tuesday night and extending their first-round playoff series.

The Islanders trailed 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, but staved off elimination by scoring the game’s first two goals and never trailing.

Pierre Engvall scored midway through the first period after getting a 1-on-1 shot at Antti Raanta off Carolina’s failed clear. Mathew Barzal took a turnover by Martin Necas the other way to beat Raanta late in the second for the 3-1 lead.

Ilya Sorokin finish with 34 saves as New York sent the series back to UBS Arena for Friday’s Game 6.

Aho — who exited to the locker room briefly after Nelson’s goal — and Paul Stastny scored for the Hurricanes.

Raanta finished with 19 saves for the Hurricanes, who have to win on the road again to avoid a Game 7 at home Sunday.

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