Islanders lose 2-1 to Hurricanes, complete late-season collapse: Takeaways

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The New York Islanders completed their late-season collapse by losing 2-1 to the JV version of the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, ending their third non-playoff season in five years after back-to-back trips to the Semifinals/Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021.

Depth center Mark Jankowski beat David Rittich from the lower right circle with 5:22 remaining in the third period to break a 1-1 tie. The goal came after the Islanders botched a defensive-zone coverage and left Jankowski uncovered below the face-off dot.

Bo Horvat’s 300th NHL goal tied the game 1-1 at 13:46 of the second period after Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers opened the scoring just 3:05 into the game. The Islander scored just two goals in their final three games, all home losses.

With the top spot in the Eastern Conference already wrapped up, the ’Canes opted to sit many of their top players, including captain Jordan Staal and top-line center Sebastian Aho. They also had to dress Thomas Sullivan, who played at Stony Brook, as an EBUG behind Long Island native Brandon Bussi because a technicality prevented planned starter Pyotr Kochetkov from making his return from injury and Frederik Andersen had already been scratched.

Bussi, playing on consecutive nights following a 3-2 shootout loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia, made 28 saves. His most notable achievement was denying Isles rookie Matthew Schaefer from breaking a tie with Brian Leetch for the most goals by a rookie defenseman. Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and the almost certain Calder Trophy winner, had to settle for tying Leetch’s mark with 23.

“It’s not a big deal,” Schaefer said of not getting the record-setting goal. “I’m sitting with Brian Leetch (for NHL rookie record) and that’s a pretty good guy to be with. I’m happy that I’m there.”

Forward Victor Eklund, one of the Isles’ three first-round picks in the 2025 draft, made his NHL debut and didn’t look out of place – he earned his first NHL point with the secondary assist on Horvat’s goal. Forward Liam Foudy, a first-round pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets eight years ago, also made his NHL season debut after scoring 25 goals for AHL Bridgeport. Defenseman Isaiah George, who spent most of the season with Bridgeport, was also in the lineup in place of a banged-up Ryan Pulock, and Rittich got his first start since being pulled after allowing three first-period goals in a 4-3 home loss to the woeful Chicago Blackhawks on March 24.

But with the exception of a spurt here and there, the Islanders looked like a team that knew it had nothing to play for. They finished the season with seven losses in their final eight games after appearing to be a lock for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with less than three weeks remaining.

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The Islanders got off to another sluggish start, allowing the Hurricanes to grab an early lead. The Isles mishandled the puck in their offensive zone, allowing rookie Felix Unger Sorum to spring Nikolaj Ehlers on a solo rush. Jean-Gabriel Pageau couldn’t catch him, and Ehlers snapped a shot from the right circle for a 1-0 lead.

The Islanders’ power play, a liability for most of the season, generated little after Eric Robinson was called for delay of game at 11:41. Rittich kept the deficit at one goal by robbing Jackson Blake with 4:29 left in the period after Pageau’s errant backpass left the son of former Islander Jason Blake all alone in the offensive zone.

The first half of the second period was so dull that MSG analyst Thomas Hickey piped up to say that “there’s not much going on out there.” But the Islanders finally tied the game with 6:46 remaining while playing with the extra man. It wasn’t a power play; instead, they capitalized on 46 seconds of playing 6-on-5 during a delayed penalty.

Eklund started the play when he fed Mathew Barzal, who found Horvat in the bumper spot for a quick shot that beat Bussi. It was a milestone goal for Horvat, but he wasted no time retrieving the puck and said he would give it to the 19-year-old from Sweden.

The Islanders carried the play for much of the third period against a Hurricanes team that looked disinterested. But the ’Canes picked up their play after killing a penalty to Mike Reilly and got the Isles running around in their own zone before Jankowski scored the game-winner.

Key takeaways after Islanders end season with 2-1 loss to Carolina

Sad ending — but promising future

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Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Losing seven of your last eight games and falling out of a playoff berth that looked like a lock is a serious disappointment. The power play struggled all season, hampering the offense, the defensive coverage was erratic and the Islanders failed to step up their game down the stretch.

At the same time, the Isles are in a lot better position after their 43-34-5 (91 points) season than they were a year ago at this time, when they ended 35-35-12, had been swept by the archrival Rangers in the season series and looked like they were going nowhere fast.

One year later, they have a franchise (if not generational) defenseman in Schaefer, promising youngsters in 2025 first-rounders Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, as well as 2024 first-round pick Cole Eiserman and 21-year-old center Cal Ritchie. They also have a premier goaltender in Ilya Sorokin. Add in solid veterans like Horvat and Barzal, and there’s a lot more to look forward to than was the case after last season.

But DeBoer warned that changes are going to be made.

“What I told the guys: we won’t have the same group of guys that are finishing the season now,” he said. “You never do. But the guys who are back need to be prepared come training camp to get to work. Cause we have a lot of work to do in order to get to where I believe we need to get to.”

“Matthew Schaefer”

It’s no accident that the UBS Arena crowd was chanting Schafer’s name as the Islanders went though the “Jersey Off Their Back” ritual after the season finale. Schaefer is the kind of player who can transform a team with both his skills and his personality. It’s hard to remember an Islander so happy to be where he is than Schaefer, who doesn’t turn 19 until training camp in September.

Islanders fans quickly took to Schaefer’s skill and joy — he may be the fastest defenseman in franchise history. The young defenseman said the feeling is mutual.

“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in front of fans,” he said. “The most fun I’ve ever had playing hockey. When you come out and the fans are chanting your name and cheering behind us, it’s the coolest feeling ever.”

One person who can’t wait to see how Schaefer’s game improves in the next couple of years is new coach Peter DeBoer. When asked about the fans chanting Schaefer’s name after the final buzzer, his reply was simple: “They recognize a generational talent.”

Last call for Lee?

Anders Lee got the captain’s “C” shortly after John Tavares fled Long Island for Toronto in the summer of 2018. He’s been a credit to the Isles on and off the ice, with nine 20-goal seasons fueled by his willingness to get to the front of the net paired with his unquestioned leadership skills in the dressing room.

But Lee’s seven-year, $49 million contract runs out after this season, and he can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, two days before he turns 36. He’s starting to show some wear and tear after 14 NHL seasons, finishing with just 19 goals and spending much of the second half of the season on the third line.

“Yeah, of course,” Lee said at the morning skate when asked if he wants to remain with the only NHL team he’s ever played for. “I’ve given everything I have to this organization. All the things, it’s all the things.

“It’s where I’ve played my entire career. It’s where I’ve put my best foot forward as much as I can. I don’t take anything for granted.”

There haven’t been any talks between Lee and the Islanders concerning a new contract. First-year GM Mathieu Darche said last month that he and Lee had an understanding that there wouldn’t be any negotiations until after the season ended. The outcome of those talks will be one of the biggest offseason stories on Long Island.

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