The good news for the Islanders was that they set a franchise record with 60 shots on goal.
The bad news was that Doug Weight missed a penalty shot that would have tied the game with 0.7 seconds left in regulation.
And the most troubling news was that goalie Rick DiPietro watched the final two periods from the bench after suffering an injury the team refused to disclose.
“I’d rather not talk about it,” DiPietro said of the injury that caused him to be yanked after giving up two goals in the first period of the Isles’ 4-3 loss to the Hurricanes last night at the Coliseum.
“It’s becoming a bit of a distraction. Obviously, when we figure out what’s going on, you guys will know.”
Given the team’s new injury policy, that’s not likely.
DiPietro missed the first four games of the year after offseason knee surgery, and started his third straight game last night. He hoped that would get him into a flow, but he had a difficult time against Carolina.
A terrible clearing attempt to the center of the ice in the first led to Carolina’s first goal, by Chad LaRose, who wound up with two on the night. That gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead 3:43 into the match.
“That was a bad play,” DiPietro said. “Stupid.”
While the Isles lost their third straight, they showed more energy than they have of late. On three occasions, they cut two-goal deficits in half and nearly tied the game in the final seconds after a Mark Streit power-play goal made it 4-3 midway through the third.
With the puck resting in the crease as time wound down, Carolina’s Tim Gleason grabbed it and swept it away, leading to a penalty shot. Weight was unable to get a good shot on Cam Ward.