The Carolina Hurricanes might not be this good. The New York Islanders are not this bad. Whether you chalk it up to the layoff, bad officiating or bad luck, the fact of the matter is Carolina dominated games 3 and 4 at home, sweeping the Islanders out of the playoffs and into a summer of reflection and decision.
Once the Hurricanes smelled blood in Game 3, they jumped all over New York in Period 3. Friday night, it was the second period when the home team was feeling pretty good about their game and dominated New York to the tune of three goals in the first 8:51, putting any hope of the Islanders becoming the fifth team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit to rest. The final score: 5-2.
If you're the Islanders, losing Johnny Boychuk in Game 4 of the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins hurt, as Thomas Hickey had a heck of a time adjusting to the speed and tenacity of the playoffs after playing sparingly in the second half of the season. It was almost an unfair assignment. Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey, who played such big roles in Round 1, were abysmal. Mathew Barzal? Smothered as Carolina quickly ascertained he was the only true threat in the offensive zone. Anders Lee? Not much of a factor.
New York's need for a true top-flight sniper was exposed in the series, but not so much its regular-season leading team defense. Without Boychuk, it's easy to forget that the Isles only allowed three goals in two games in Brooklyn before coming unglued, which was not a trademark of this team all year, once they hit the road. Two of the Hurricanes goals in Game 3 were into an empty net.
Carolina persevered and capitalized on each and every break it received, while taking care of business when it needed to upon returning home. What that earns the Hurricanes is some well-deserved rest and a date in the Eastern Conference finals with the winner of the Boston Bruins-Columbus Blue Jackets series, currently tied at two games apiece.
What the Islanders have earned is a summer ahead of them filled with big decisions. Captain Lee, Nelson and Jordan Eberle are unrestricted free agents. Anthony Beauvillier and Michael Dal Colle need contracts as restricted free agents. Does Val Filppula, with the Islanders short on center depth, come back? And of course, goalie Robin Lehner is going to be looking to get paid after a season of self-reflection and mental rehabilitation earned him Masteron and Vezina trophy nominations.
That's not to account for what should be a busy trade season ahead of the NHL entry draft and opening of free agency on July 1. Big name stars could be free to sign with whomever they choose or be made available in trades, namely Columbus' Artemi Panarin and Matt Duchene and Buffalo's Jeff Skinner.
At the end of the day, when you take stock in everything that we saw in 2018-19, the Islanders are in terrific shape organizationally for the first time in ages. Solid at the top with president and general manager Lou Lamoriello, ridiculously good behind the bench with Barry Trotz and a potential franchise center to build around in Barzal. The only thing holding them back could potentially be the two-arena circus, but that's a story for another column.
With big favorites going out in Round 1, fans might look at this as a missed opportunity in a playoff year ruled by the underdogs. And they are right. It was. But instead of focusing on just how bad New York looked the final two games of this series, give credit to a Hurricanes team that just beat them at their own game.
Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. Once the anger and frustration fades, make sure you look to the horizon. I have a feeling more good days than bad are in the Islanders' weather forecast.
Follow Andy on Twitter at @AndyGraz_WFAN.
