Greiss, Islanders disappoint Canes again, 2-1

New York Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss has two wins this season.

Both have come against the Carolina Hurricanes.

For the Canes, both very disappointing losses.

The Islanders, who beat the Canes in the season opener, did it again Sunday at PNC Arena as Greiss made all the big stops in a 2-1 victory.

In the Oct. 4 opener, Greiss had 45 saves in a 2-1 overtime win. Returning to an arena that seems to offer a pleasant comfort zone for the goalie, he had another 38 stops -- the Canes had a 39-20 shooting edge -- in earning his 100th career win.

The Canes’ Rod Brind’Amour said Saturday his first season as a head coach has made him “older, quicker.” Games like Sunday’s will do that to a coach.

“I thought right from the start we were a tad off and when we were good we just couldn’t find the net,” Brind’Amour said. “Frustrating is a good word for it.”

Teuvo Teravainen scored for Carolina (6-4-1) in the second period after Sebastian Aho tried to pass to Micheal Ferland at the doorstep. Greiss turned away Aho’s backhander but Teravainen was in the right spot in the slot to rip a high shot past Greiss.

Aho’s assist gave the Finnish center points in the first 11 games of the season, tying the franchise record set by Ron Francis in October 1984.

The Islanders (5-4-1) had a physical edge in a mostly grinding game and wouldn’t let the Canes get to their game. The Isles blocked 20 shots, got sticks on sticks, and wouldn’t let the Canes crank up their forecheck as fiercely and effectively as they did Friday in a 4-3 shootout win over San Jose.

The Islanders also had the special-teams edge, scoring on a first-period power play and denying Carolina on its three power plays.

“They did a great job clearing the front of the net and we didn’t have many second opportunities,” Canes captain Justin Williams said. “Our power play needs to get us a goal. Losing the special teams battle every night and trying to win games is tough.”

The Isles turned their first power play into a rapid-fire goal. Anders Lee set up in the slot and redirected a pass from Josh Bailey past Petr Mrazek. Elapsed time on the power play: nine seconds.

After Teravainen’s goal tied it, the Isles used their transition speed to take a 2-1 lead on a goal by defenseman Ryan Pulock at 14:35 of the second. Williams was skating hard on the backcheck, but Pulock stopped in the slot and whipped a spinning shot past Mrazek for his first goal of the season.

With goalie Scott Darling healthy, there was a question if Brind’Amour would give him his first start of the season. But Brind’Amour went with Mrazek, a winner in his past two starts against Detroit and San Jose.

The Islanders ripped the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1 on Saturday, but there was no doubt who Isles coach Barry Trotz would use against the Canes in Raleigh.

“I don’t think we made (Greiss) work as hard as we did in the first game,” Brind’Amour said. “He came up big for them when he had to. But we needed to get a few more quality looks at him. We only gave up one goal five-on-five. That should be enough to win.

“The game wasn’t that bad. You lose the game and you feel pretty bad about it, but I thought overall that game could have gone our way.”

The Canes nearly tied it early in the third as defenseman Dougie Hamilton hit the post with a heavy outside shot. Moments later, Mrazek kept it a 2-1 game with a strong save against Anthony Beauvillier — one of a handful of good stops in the third by the Canes goalie.

The Canes pulled Mrazek in the final two minutes for an extra attacker. In the opener, Jordan Staal scored with 1:35 left in regulation to tie the score and force overtime. Not this time.

The Canes finish up a three-game homestand Tuesday against the Boston Bruins before making a four-game Western trip.

This story was originally published October 28, 2018 at 7:39 PM.