The Islanders had just enough life to extend their season a few more days.
Facing elimination on home ice and facing an early deficit, the Islanders scrabbled together enough fight and resilience to mount a comeback and send the series back to Raleigh for Game 5 with a 3-2 double-overtime victory on Mathew Barzal’s goal.
Stefan Noesen had tied the game for Carolina with just under six minutes left in regulation to send the game to overtime.
But unlike last season when they were facing elimination in overtime on home ice, the Islanders got what they needed.
Both teams retreated into conservatism during a high-tension extra period, playing dump-and-chase hockey with defensemen hanging back to avoid getting caught out.
Semyon Varlamov and Frederik Andersen both stood up to what pressure did come, with Andersen turning aside Anders Lee’s two-on-one chance and Kyle Palmieri’s wraparound attempt and Varlamov stopping Andrei Svechnikov’s deflection late in the period.
Finally, in double overtime, Robert Bortuzzo ended it with a shot from the high point that Barzal deflected in, creating a mob scene at the blue line.
