Hurricanes Lead The Islanders (3-0), Notes

The Carolina Hurricanes, nee Hartford Whalers, are on the precipice of just their fourth semi-final/conference final appearance, after an easy, home win vs the New York Islanders, gave them a (3-0) series lead.

Rod Brind’Amour has done a great job coaching the ‘Canes, who overcame a pair of two goal deficits to defeat defending champion, Washington (Capitals) in a thrilling two overtime, game 7, in the United States capital.

This is the second time (an upstart one, as in both years they made the ‘offs, after failing to qualify the year before) the Islanders have followed 4 straight wins to eliminate the Pittsburgh Penguins, with losses in the first three games of their next series.

This season the Islanders swept the Penguins in 4 straight games, in the NHL first round.

In 1975, the Islanders overcame a (3-0) quarterfinal series deficit, winning the last 4 games vs the Penguins.

Next, they lost the first three games to the defending champion Philadelphia Flyers, before winning the next three.

“Philly” brought their “good luck charm,” Kate Smith in to sing “God Bless America” and it “worked” again, as the Flyers won game 7 and the subsequent final series vs the Buffalo Sabres.

Carolina coach, Rod Brind’Amour, the captain on the Hurricanes/Whalers lone NHL title team in ’06, is pictured below.