The New York Islanders, playing without Trent Hunter, Kyle Okposo, Dean McAmmond, and Andy Hilbert were simply in over their heads on Tuesday night against the runaway locomotive that is the Carolina Hurricanes, falling 9-0. Amazingly, the score isn't the most incredible series of numbers to come out of this game.Honestly, we haven't seen a hockey game this one-sided since the Slovakia Women's National Team annihilated Bulgaria, 82-0, earlier this year. OK, maybe it wasn't quite that bad.
Eric Staal recorded a hat trick in the win, giving him 39 goals on the year, while Tuomo Ruutu (two), Frantisek Kaberle, Scott Walker, Dwight Helminen, and Rod Brind'Amour also added goals for the streaking Hurricanes.
Now, let's get to the fascinating numbers.
-- The Hurricanes outshot the Islanders by a 57-12 margin.
-- Over the second and third periods, that margin was an unthinkable 47-6. The Hurricanes were aided by 11 power plays (to only four for the Islanders) but that's been par the course this season as Carolina has the best power play/ penalty kill differential in the league.
-- The Hurricanes registered 23 shots in the second period. The Islanders registered two.
-- With nine minutes to play in regulation, the Carolina Hurricanes had as many goals (eight) as the New York Islanders had shots.
Wow.
With the win, the Hurricanes extended their current winning streak to nine games overall, and 12 games on home ice. In the process, Carolina keeps pace with Philadelphia -- 2-1 winners against Florida -- in the race for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders, meanwhile, have lost eight of their past 11 games, and are cemented in as the favorites to win the draft lottery this offseason. So, if there's anything good to come out of this season, it's the guarantee of John Tavares or Victor Hedman.
