Hurricanes finish off Islanders, 6-3, behind quick-strike third-period goals

RALEIGH, N.C. — On to the second round.

The Carolina Hurricanes ignited for two goals in eight seconds in the third period Tuesday in taking a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders to clinch the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

The Canes, beating the Isles in five games, advance to face the New York Rangers in the second round. The Rangers, who edged Carolina in winning the Metro Division this season, have the home-ice advantage and will host Games 1 and 2 at Madison Square Garden.

The Canes first got a goal from Jack Drury, then a second from Stefan Noesen eight seconds later to take the 5-3 lead. It was Drury’s first career playoff goal and the third of the series from Noesen. Seth Jarvis scored a late empty-net goal to finish it off — the Canes outscored the Isles 10-1 in the third period in the five games.

Drury first won a draw in the defensive zone, sped down ice and scored on a shot from the left circle. After the draw at center, Brady Skjei rimmed the puck down the ice and goalie Semyon Varlamov went behind the net to play it. But the puck took a weird carom and bounced back in front of the net, where Noesen was alone and punched it in.

The Canes scored two goals in nine seconds late in Game 2 in an amazing comeback win. They did it one second better Tuesday — the first officially at 4:36, then 4:44 of the third.

Casey Cizikas, taking advantage of a fallen Frederik Andersen, gave the Islanders a 3-3 tie after the second period.

With the Islanders buzzing around the net in the final minute of the second, Andersen tried to make a shift from left to right in the crease and the goalie fell near the post. Cizikas, open in the low slot, scored with 21.2 seconds left.

The Canes scored twice in the first 3:13 of the game, then added a penalty-shot goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov to take a 3-1 lead over the New York Islanders after the first period.

But the Islanders scored early in the second period in transition as Brock Nelson beat goalie Frederik Andersen on a shot from the slot. Nelson’s goal, off a Kyle Palmieri pass, came at 3:47 of the second.

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