Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1: With a whimper

Sound Beach native (and feel-good story, to be honest) Brandon Bussi was stingy in making […]

Meeting the fans for the jersey off their backs finale deal. | NHLI via Getty Images Come on , man. The greedy, points-munching, perennially-falling-just-short Carolina Hurricanes couldn’t even concede us a little fun in a meaningless season finale.

And the April walking ghost New York Islanders couldn’t even give us something frivolous to celebrate in the same. Sound Beach native (and feel-good story, to be honest) Brandon Bussi was stingy in making 28 saves to frustrate the Isles on the way to a 2-1 Carolina win in Elmont. Victor Eklund did get his first NHL point — on Bo Horvat’s 300th goal, so maybe they can split the memento puck — but Matthew Schaefer never got his record-breaking goal, despite many shot attempts (10 total, four reaching goal) and encouragement from the home crowd.

[ NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick ] Bo Horvat said he’s definitely giving puck for his 300th goal to Victor Eklund for his first NHL point. — Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) April 15, 2026 As time wound down with it still 1-1, you started to think maybe it was setting the stage for another insta-classic Schaefer OT winner, something to soften the sting in the wounds of this past month. But then the Hurricanes used a sustained shift in the Isles zone and not a few brushes with David Rittich in his crease to set the table for the go-ahead goal with a little over five minutes to go.