The Islanders faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs, with Patrick Roy lamenting that his team should have gone home tied at one in the series. Roy believed that the Islanders outplayed Carolina in Game 1 and were the better team, making that loss particularly heartbreaking for him. Looking ahead to Game 3, Roy emphasized the need to return to the blueprint from Game 1, focusing on areas such as breakouts and offensive play where they can improve.
In preparation for Game 3, the Islanders had a lengthy practice with a heavy focus on breakouts as instructed by Roy. The goal was to get back to playing the way they did in Game 1 and improving on their performance from Game 2, where Carolina outplayed them. The emphasis was on limiting Carolina’s time and space in the Islanders’ end and breaking pucks out well to regain control of the series.
As the Islanders prepared for Game 3, there were lineup changes expected for the team. Hudson Fasching was set to return to the lineup, while Simon Holmstrom would be coming out. Matt Martin was listed as day-to-day with maintenance, and Ruslan Iskhakov could potentially take his place on the fourth line if Martin was unable to play. The decision regarding Martin’s availability would be made closer to game time.
The Carolina Hurricanes faced injury setbacks heading into Game 3, with defenseman Brett Pesce expected to miss the remainder of the series due to a lower-body injury sustained during Game 2. Tony DeAngelo was likely to fill in for Pesce in the lineup. Jesper Fast, who missed the first two games of the series, also did not practice and was expected to miss Game 3 as well. These injuries would impact Carolina’s lineup and strategies moving forward in the series.
As Game 3 approached, the focus for the Islanders was on making adjustments and getting back to their winning ways from Game 1. Roy and the team were determined to improve on their performance from Game 2, where Carolina had the upper hand. With lineup changes and injuries affecting both teams, it was essential for the Islanders to adapt and find ways to gain an advantage in the series. The upcoming game would be crucial in determining the momentum and potential outcome of the series.
