Bradly Nadeau scored his first NHL goal to begin a three-goal first-period flurry Thursday night for the Carolina Hurricanes, who rolled to a 6-2 win over the New York Islanders in a battle of Metropolitan Division rivals in Raleigh, N.C.
Mike Reilly and Jordan Martinook scored later in the first while Jackson Blake, Andrei Svechnikov and Logan Stankoven had a goal apiece in the third for the Hurricanes, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Goalie Brandon Bussi made 26 saves.
Matthew Schaefer and Simon Holmstrom scored for the Islanders, who lost their third straight (0-2-1) following a four-game winning streak. New York played without first-line center Mathew Barzal, who was scratched for being late to practice Thursday morning.
Goalie David Rittich recorded 27 saves.
Nadeau, a first-round pick in 2023 who played in his sixth career game Thursday, scored his milestone goal following a turnover by the Islanders 2:33 into the first. New York right winger Maxim Tsyplakov’s clearing pass was picked off by Nadeau, who scored from the left faceoff circle.
Reilly, who spent the last season-plus with the Islanders, doubled the lead by scoring an unassisted shorthanded goal just 2:48 later, when he picked up the rebound of his own shot and beat Rittich with the wraparound.
Another turnover led to Martinook’s goal with 9:39 remaining. Adam Pelech’s clearing pass sailed past teammate Emil Heineman as well as Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin to Svechnikov, whose shot from just in front of the blue line was slowed but not stopped by Rittich. Martinook tucked the puck home from the crease.
Schaefer scored a power play goal with 6:40 left in the second, when his shot sailed under Bussi’s glove as he was screened by teammate Joel Nystrom as well as Islanders center Bo Horvat.
Blake put the Hurricanes back ahead by three goals 1:51 into the third, when he took a drop pass from Taylor Hall and beat Rittich glove side. Holmstrom scored at the 10:48 mark, but Svechnikov responded with a goal just 11 seconds later. Stankoven capped the scoring with 10.5 seconds remaining.
