Hurricanes rally past Islanders for fourth straight win

Islanders' playoff hopes fading after fourth consecutive loss

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:18am

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The New York Islanders took an early lead but were unable to hold off a furious comeback by the Carolina Hurricanes, who scored four unanswered goals to win 4-3 and hand the Islanders their fourth straight defeat.

Why it matters

The Islanders' loss is a significant blow to their playoff hopes, as they continue to slide down the standings in the tightly contested Eastern Conference race. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have now won four games in a row to strengthen their position in the postseason picture.

The details

The Islanders jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first two periods, with goals from Marc Gatcomb and Max Shabanov. However, the Hurricanes stormed back in the second period, tying the game and then taking the lead with a shorthanded goal from Sebastian Aho. Carolina added another goal early in the third period to make it 4-2 before Anders Lee scored late to make it 4-3, but the Islanders were unable to find the equalizer.

  • The game was played on April 4, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
  • The Islanders took a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the first period.
  • The Hurricanes tied the game at 1-1 later in the first period.
  • The Islanders regained the lead 2-1 early in the second period.
  • The Hurricanes scored three unanswered goals in the second and third periods to take a 4-2 lead.
  • Anders Lee scored with 1:30 remaining to make it 4-3, but the Islanders couldn't find the tying goal.

The players

Marc Gatcomb

A forward for the New York Islanders who scored the team's first goal of the game.

Max Shabanov

A defenseman for the New York Islanders who scored the team's second goal in his return to the lineup.

Anders Lee

The Islanders' captain who scored a late goal to make it 4-3 but couldn't find the equalizer.

Sebastian Aho

A forward for the Carolina Hurricanes who scored a shorthanded goal to give his team the lead in the second period.

Seth Jarvis

A forward for the Carolina Hurricanes who scored two goals, including the game-winner in the third period.

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What they’re saying

“We had them on the ropes early but just couldn't finish them off. That's been the story too often lately.”

— Anders Lee, Islanders Captain

“Our guys showed a lot of fight to battle back and get this win. We knew the Islanders would come out strong, but we weathered the storm and took control in the end.”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Hurricanes Head Coach

What’s next

The Islanders will return home to UBS Arena on Thursday to host the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they try to snap their four-game losing streak and keep their playoff hopes alive. The Hurricanes will look to extend their winning streak when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

The takeaway

The Islanders' late-season collapse has put their playoff aspirations in serious jeopardy, as they have now lost four straight games and continue to slide down the standings. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have emerged as one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference, rallying from an early deficit to secure another important victory in their push for the postseason.