One bounce that may have decided a series

Robin Lehner has carried the New York Islanders all season. Vezina Trophy finalist. Likely Masterton Trophy winner. Impeccable throughout the playoffs, even in the Islanders’ losses – except for one blip Wednesday night.

With the score tied in the third period, Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho pressured Lehner as he played the puck behind the net. Lehner tried to flip it past Aho, but Aho got his stick on it and knocked it down. It fell right to Aho’s feet, where he fed a slashing Justin Williams in the slot for what turned out to be the game-winner in the Hurricanes’ 5-2 win in Game 3.

“He was on the forehand, so I just cheated in the corner there,” Aho said. “I was lucky, too, to get a bounce.”

From such bounces, series are decided. The Hurricanes tacked on two empty-net goals, but that was the back-breaker for the Islanders, who were able to produce almost immediate answers for the Hurricanes’ first two goals Wednesday but nothing for the third and now face a 3-0 deficit in the series and potential sweep in Game 4 on Friday.

“It was a mistake,” Lehner said. “I own that one. As I said, tight game, I think we had chances. I think they had a lot of good chances. It came down to one play.”

At the same time, there was a sense of disbelief around it. Lehner has stopped 80 of the 86 shots he has faced – a .930 save percentage – and has somehow lost all three games.

“We win or lose as a team,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “There’s other plays during the game that he’s bailed us out many times.”

SVECH HAPPENS The Hurricanes got Andrei Svechnikov (concussion) back for the first time since Alex Ovechkin knocked him out in Game 3 of the Washington Capitals series, and the Russian rookie looked at times like he hadn’t missed a step.

Svechnikov had two shots on goal in 12:13 of ice time, including a right-wing power rush to the net that nearly ended in a goal.

“He’s a special player,” Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin said. “He was big for us all year. He’s a big, physical body with a lot of skill. I think he’s going to get more dangerous as this goes on.”

Jordan Martinook also returned to the lineup after missing the past two games and three of the past five with a chronic lower-body injury. Martinook played 12:02 on a very effective and hard-hitting fourth line with Greg McKegg and Patrick Brown.

Haydn Fleury, replacing the injured Trevor van Riemsdyk in the lineup, played 8:31.

JACCOB’S LADDER Slavin had a pair of assists to give him 12 through 10 playoff games. Only three defensemen – all Hall of Famers – have had more through 10 postseason games: Bobby Orr (15), Larry Robinson (13) and Larry Murphy (13).

Already the franchise record-holder for playoff assists in a season by a defenseman, Slavin is one behind the franchise record for points by a defenseman, held by Frantisek Kaberle (four goals, nine assists) in 2006.

POWER OFF The Hurricanes last scored a power-play goal in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Washington Capitals, 16 days ago. They have had 21 chances since then over a span of 445:22 of elapsed game time without scoring.

They were 0-for-2 Wednesday, both opportunities coming with the score tied, but are somehow 6-1 since their last conversion.

“It needs to be better,” Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk said. “It’s a little bit of a sore spot. Or a big sore spot. We haven’t been good on it and it’s not what it needs to be. We need to find ways to generate chances, generate more shots. I think we’re giving them a little bit, making it too easy for them. They’re getting pucks out and clearing them, we’re not getting the rebounds we need. It’s a big part of the game, and at the same time, it’s good that our five-on-five play is carrying us right now.”

MOMENT OF SILENCE The on-campus shooting Tuesday at UNC Charlotte, which left two dead and another four wounded, was on a lot of minds Wednesday. The Hurricanes held a moment of silence before the game.

“It’s obviously tragic,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It comes up on the news and it puts everything in perspective again. This is nothing, all this stuff we worry about. In a minute like that ... you don’t know what’s coming tomorrow or around the corner or whatever.

“Tragic. Everybody thinks the same, (that) this stuff shouldn’t be out there. Enjoy every day you have, that’s the way you have to look at things.”

Added Canes captain Justin Williams: “We’re all humans and we’re all emotional. Stuff like that doesn’t get in your head during the game but is obviously something you think about. And pray about.”

Staff writer Chip Alexander and correspondent Ken Tysiac contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 1, 2019 at 11:19 PM.