UBS Arena was not quite Fort Neverlose 2.0 in its playoff debut a year ago — with the Islanders dropping two out of three games at home, including the season-ending Game 6 to Carolina in overtime.
But that is not stopping them from believing and hoping this year will be different, despite the all-too-familiar circumstances of walking into Game 3 down 2-0 to the ’Canes and feeling the sting of a heartbreaking Game 2 loss — a year ago on Jesper Fast’s overtime game-winner and Monday night on a blown 3-0 lead late in regulation.
The ear-splitting noise of PNC Arena when Sebastian Aho and Jordan Martinook scored within nine seconds of each other to tie the game and take the lead Monday did at least serve as a reminder that the crowd can make a difference.
And the Islanders certainly are in need of the morale boost that some noise can provide.
“When you have the crowd behind you and that energy, it puts a little extra step in your game,” Ryan Pulock told reporters Tuesday. “And as the visiting team, you have to try to fight that and get that back. I think we’re gonna be excited come Game 3. I think our building will be lively, just like theirs was, and we can feed off that energy.”
The optimistic yet pessimistic view of the first two games of this series is that the Islanders could have easily won either, or both, matches in Raleigh.
At least in that sense, they have not been completely overmatched by a Carolina team that was heavily favored.
It doesn’t hurt, either, that there is an extra day between Games 2 and 3 — both to rest and to get over the calamity the Islanders suffered on Monday.
“Physically, mentally, everything,” Kyle Palmieri told reporters. “Today will be a day to reset, take a look at things. Tomorrow we get back to work.”
Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said Tony DeAngelo would likely come into the Hurricanes’ lineup if Brett Pesce, who left Game 2 in the second period with a lower-body injury, can’t go Thursday.
Fast, who has missed the first two games of the series, will not play Thursday if he doesn’t practice Wednesday.
The Hurricanes have yet to decide on a Game 3 starter in nets between Frederik Andersen, who has played the first two games, and Pyotr Kochetkov.
The Islanders called up Julien Gauthier, Brian Pinho, Karson Kuhlman, Robin Salo and Dennis Cholowski, presumably to serve as Black Aces with the season over for AHL Bridgeport.
