UNDATED (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes appeared ready to add at least one more point to their lead in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division. Instead, they remain two ahead of the New York Rangers following an agonizing loss to the Islanders.
Kyle Palmieri scored with 14.1 seconds remaining for the Islanders in a wild final minute, less than 43 seconds after Vincent Trocheck tied it for Carolina. The Hurricanes weren’t crisp at all on their way to losing for the third time in four games.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— The Panthers beat the Sabres, 4-3 on Sam Bennett’s goal with 37.3 seconds to play. Florida got its franchise-record 50th win of season despite trailing 3-1. Sam Reinhart and Claude Giroux each had a goal and an assist for the Eastern Conference leaders.
— Charlie Coyle scored 3:37 into overtime to give the Bruins a 2-1 victory over the Lightning. Linus Ullmark stopped 28 shots in Boston’s eighth win in 11 games. Andrei Vasilevsky handled 26 shots for Tampa Bay, which has dropped four straight to fall a point behind the Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division.
— The Avalanche picked up their fifth straight win by downing the Jets, 5-4 on Cale Makar’s goal 2:42 into OT. Makar, Andre Burakovsky and Nathan MacKinnon each had a goal and an assist for the NHL’s top team. Pavel Francouz stopped 39 shots for Colorado, which is 9-1-1 in its last 11 games.
— Robert Thomas scored at 1:27 of overtime to give the Blues a 4-3 victory over the Wild. The Blues overcame a 3-1 deficit to leapfrog Minnesota for second place in the Central Division standings and home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Brayden Schenn, Pavel Buchnevich and Justin Faulk also scored for St. Louis, and Ville Husso made 35 saves.
