
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
Victor Eklund, a prospect for the Islanders, recorded his first NHL point during a 2-1 loss to the Hurricanes, marking the end of the regular season.
(Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images)
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(Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images)
NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Jankowski scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for Carolina, and Brandon Bussi made 28 saves. The Hurricanes closed the regular season with four wins in their final five games and finished atop the Eastern Conference.
Bo Horvat scored for New York, David Rittich stopped 19 shots and the Islanders lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Ehlers opened the scoring at 3:05 of the first period and finished his first season in Carolina with a career-high 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists). Felix Unger Sorum assisted on the goal in his NHL debut.
Horvat tied it 1-all late in the second period, finishing a feed from Mathew Barzal with less than seven minutes remaining. Victor Eklund, also making his NHL debut, had an assist.
Pyotr Kochetkov was slated to start and took warmups but was unavailable due to a roster technicality. He has been activated from injured reserve and will be eligible for the playoffs, according to the team. Emergency backup goaltender Thomas Sullivan served as Carolina’s backup.
Hurricanes: Host Ottawa Senators in first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Islanders: Done for the season.
The final score was 2-1 in favor of the Hurricanes.
Victor Eklund is a prospect for the Islanders who recorded his first NHL point in the game against the Hurricanes.
The Islanders ended their regular season with a loss to the Hurricanes, concluding the season on this note.

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