Trocheck scores in OT, lifts Hurricanes over Islanders 3-2

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Vincent Trocheck scored early in overtime and the Carolina Hurricanes ended a four-game losing streak, beating the New York Islanders 3-2 Saturday.

Trocheck notched his first goal with the Hurricanes on a power play 1:36 into the extra session, sending the Islanders to their sixth loss in a row.

During a scramble in front of the New York net, Trocheck knocked the puck past goaltender Thomas Greiss after teammate Andrei Svechnikov appeared to possibly tap the puck off the crossbar with a high stick.

The goal was confirmed after a lengthy review by the officials. It looked as though Svechnikov’s stick was above the crossbar, but the league ruled his stick was below his shoulders and therefore a good goal.

“I was feeling like I wasn’t getting any bounces those first few games,” said Trocheck, acquired from Florida on Feb. 24. “To finally get one and for it to be an OT winner definitely something I’ll remember.”

The win kept Carolina two points back of the Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets, who occupy the two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference.

“Every shift matters,” Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It’s all coming down to details and those little things that we’re talking about. The shot blocks and they all get magnified this time of year.”

Josh Bailey tied the game at 2 for the Islanders with just under five minutes to play in the third period. Noah Dobson took a shot that goalie Anton Forsberg kicked away, but the rebound went right to Bailey for the goal.

Forsberg made 24 saves for the Hurricanes as he picked up his first win of the season. Ryan Pulock also scored for New York and Greiss made 25 saves.

“I thought we played hard, I thought we played a pretty fully 60,” Bailey said. “We just fell a little short. Not sure about the goal in overtime.”

Haydn Fleury opened the scoring at 13:22 of the first period. The Carolina defenseman beat Greiss on his glove side for his fifth goal of the season and second in three games.

Pulock tied the game with a shot from the point 5:15 into the second. Anders Lee stripped Brady Skjei of the puck in the corner to set Pulock up for the one-timer from just inside the faceoff circle. Pulock scored in his third straight game.

NOTES: Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrázek was on the ice for the second consecutive day ahead after missing the previous four games with a concussion. Mrázek practiced with the Hurricanes on Friday for the first time and then worked with the team’s goaltending coach on Long Island on Saturday morning. … Carolina is in the middle of a season-high six-game road trip. It will face Pittsburgh, Detroit and New Jersey before returning to Raleigh to host Pittsburgh next Saturday. … Carolina scratched goaltender James Reimer. … Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck was scratched from Saturday’s game after missing all of the third period in Thursday’s loss to St. Louis and not practicing on Friday. He did skate in the pregame warmups. … New York defenseman Johnny Boychuk missed his second consecutive game after taking a stick to the face on Tuesday. … The Islanders embark on a four-game road trip beginning on Tuesday, with stops in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Pittsburgh.

UP NEXT:

Hurricanes: At Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Islanders: At Vancouver on Tuesday.