Hurricanes Edge Islanders 2-1 in Tight Playoff Tune-Up

Carolina's late third-period goal secures victory in regular season finale

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:39am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with the players and ice broken down into abstract shapes and angles, with the puck as the central focus.The Hurricanes' late-game heroics secure a tight victory over the Islanders in their regular season finale.NYC Today

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 in their final regular season game, with Mark Jankowski scoring the go-ahead goal in the third period. Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for the Hurricanes, who finished atop the Eastern Conference. Bo Horvat netted the lone goal for the Islanders, who have struggled down the stretch.

Why it matters

This game served as a playoff tune-up for the Hurricanes, who will host the Ottawa Senators in the first round. The Islanders, meanwhile, missed the postseason after making it last year, raising questions about their direction moving forward.

The details

Ehlers opened the scoring for Carolina in the first period, but Horvat tied it up late in the second for the Islanders. Jankowski then broke the deadlock with his third-period goal to lift the Hurricanes to victory. Backup goaltender Brandon Bussi made 28 saves for Carolina, while David Rittich stopped 19 shots for New York.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • Ehlers scored the opening goal at 3:05 of the first period.
  • Horvat tied the game for the Islanders late in the second period, with less than seven minutes remaining.

The players

Mark Jankowski

The Carolina Hurricanes forward scored the game-winning goal in the third period.

Nikolaj Ehlers

The Hurricanes forward opened the scoring with a first-period goal, finishing the season with a career-high 71 points.

Bo Horvat

The Islanders forward scored his team's lone goal, tying the game in the second period.

Brandon Bussi

The Hurricanes backup goaltender made 28 saves to secure the victory.

David Rittich

The Islanders goaltender stopped 19 shots in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this would be a tough game, but the guys really stepped up and got the job done. Now we can focus on the playoffs.”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Hurricanes Head Coach

What’s next

The Hurricanes will host the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, while the Islanders' season has come to an end.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Hurricanes' depth and resilience as they prepare for the postseason, while the Islanders' struggles this season raise concerns about the team's direction moving forward.