John Tavares probably wishes the Islanders had four more games against the Hurricanes as they try to make a desperate push for the playoffs.
The Islanders’ top scorer notched two goals and added an assist in the Islanders’ 4-3 victory last night that completed their four-game season sweep of the Hurricanes.
Kevin Poulin made 33 saves for the Islanders (25-25-8), who pulled within six points of eighth-place Toronto in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The last time the Islanders had at least a .500 record after Feb. 1 was four years ago.
“We have one goal in mind and that is to make the playoffs,” said Tavares, who has yet to reach the postseason since the Islanders made him the top overall pick in the 2009 draft. “Our next game is huge.”
The Islanders will play host to seventh-place Ottawa tomorrow.
Tavares broke a 3-3 tie 38 seconds into the third when he knocked a rebound past goalie Justin Peters, who replaced starter Cam Ward to begin the period. Ward left the game with a lower body injury, the Hurricanes said. It was Tavares’ 24th goal of the season.
“We worked at wearing them down,” Tavares said. “That’s a big part of our game.”
Tavares, who has 56 points this season, also has six assists versus the Hurricanes (22-26-11). Carolina is tied with Buffalo at 55 points for last in the conference.
“You have to find ways to win this time of year,” Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said. “The guys fought hard, but we came up short.”
Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo also scored for the Islanders, who last reached the playoffs in 2007.
The 21-year-old Poulin was recalled from AHL Bridgeport this week to replace No. 1 goalie Evgeni Nabokov, who was out with the flu. Poulin made two point-blank saves in the closing seconds to preserve his second win.
“We outplayed them in the third, got the goal we need and shut them down,” Poulin said.