The New York Islanders fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in their first loss at Nassau Coliseum of the season.

Prior to the game, the Islanders loaned Joshua Ho-Sang to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and recalled Valtteri Filppula from the IR.

The loss was once again stained by the Islanders lack of an effective power-play, which was 0-3 including a late failed power-play with 4:57 to go in the third period.

The power-play wasn’t the only reason why the Islanders lost, however. They also gave up a late power-play goal to Jaccob Slavin on a Leo Komarov cross-check to Brock McGinn.

To start the game, the Islanders had two goals go off defensemen to give Carolina a 2-1 lead.

When down 2-1 in the second, the Islanders thought that they had scored on a Jordan Eberle goal, which was called off due to Valtteri Filppula being offside.

The theme of the game overall was that it was just a frustrating game. Coming off a six game winning streak, playing at the Coliseum, it was expected that the Islanders would play a more structured game, but they didn’t. The Islanders were so close many times, including a Ryan Pulock chance at the end of the second period where he tried to go five-hole on Curtis McElhinney. His inside leg made the save, and a scramble on the dying seconds on the game was unsuccessful.

Hopefully, the Islanders can correct their problems when they play against their rival Rangers on a home-and-home.

A bright spot was that Devon Toews scored a goal which gives him three points in his short NHL career. Brock Nelson also had two goals, which may be a sign that he is heating up.

David Lazar