Stat Trick: Carolina 4, Isles 1

Eric Staal and Matt Cullen scored 2:53 apart in the first period and that was enough as the Hurricanes handed the Islanders their third straight loss, 4-1 in Raleigh on Thursday night. On to the trick:

1. Staal's goal, his eighth in the last five games, came on Carolina's first power play of the game. It was the 18th goal of the season for the recently-named Hurricane captain.

2. After a scoreless 2nd period, the Isles had a chance to get back in the game in the third period on a power play, but Stephane Yelle scored shorthanded
just before the midway point of the third period.

3. Matt Moulson got the Islanders on the board at 15:29 of the third period. It was his 20th goal of the season; he's the first Islander since 2007-08 to reach that mark. The Isles threatened to get closer, but Jussi Jokinnen sealed matters for Carolina with an empty-net goal.

...a few more...

4. The Isles' three game losing streak matches their second longest losing streak of the season (done three other times). The Isles have scored only five goals in the three losses, and six in the last four games. The Isles lost the first six games of the season (0-3-3) for their longest streak of the year.

5. Yelle's shorthanded goal was the third allowed by the Isles this season. The Isles are 0-3-0 this season, and 0-7-1 under Scott Gordon, when they allow a shorthanded goal. It was Yelle's 11th career shorthanded goal.

6. Cam Ward made 26 saves for the Hurricanes in raising his record against the Isles to 10-2-1; he has now started 21 straight games for Carolina. Rick DiPietro made 22 saves for the Isles, who are 4-14-2 in games not started by Dwayne Roloson this season.

7. Kyle Okposo lead Islander forwards with 20:12 of ice-time. He attempted five shots at goal, but two were blocked by Carolina and three missed the net.

8. The loss was the Isles fourth in the last five games and drops them back to NHL .500 at 23-23-8. It's the first time since they beat Phoenix on January 9th to get to 19-19-8 that the Isles are back at NHL .500.

9. With Atlanta winning in Philadelphia this evening, the Isles are now in a three-way tie for 11th place in the East, one point behind four other teams. Looking at it the other way, though -- if the season ended today, the Isles would have the fifth seed entering the draft lottery.

10. The Isles still lead the season series two games to one, and four points to three. The teams will meet next Saturday on Long Island.

Up next: The four game road trip continues in Philadelphia with a 1:00 game on Saturday. If the Isles are going to make a serious run at the playoffs, they will need to find a way to win a few divisional road games. Under Gordon, the Isles are 3-14-1 in divisional road tilts, with all three wins at Madison Square Garden. The Isles have not been able to beat the Flyers anywhere in recent years; the Isles are 0-10-3 in their last thirteen ovrall against the Flyers and have not won in their last seven trips to Philadelphia (0-7-1). This is the fourth meeting of the season between the squads with the Flyers holding a 6-2 victory in Philadelphia and a pair of 2-1 victories on Long Island.


Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: forever1940.blogspot.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick