Justin Peters makes 34 saves in NHL debut, Hurricanes beat Isles 3-1

Peters makes 34 saves in NHL debut

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Justin Peters made 34 saves in his NHL debut, and Jussi Jokinen, Patrick Dwyer and Joni Pitkanen supported him with goals to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Islanders 3-1 on Saturday night.

Frans Nielsen’s short-handed goal in the second was the only offense the Islanders could muster against the 23-year-old Peters, who made 11 third-period saves.

Carolina salvaged a split of a four-game road trip, winning games on back-to-back nights against Buffalo and New York. Pitkanen’s long-rang goal with Rick DiPietro trying to get to the bench with a minute left added the insurance marker.

The Islanders have scored just nine goals during a season-high seven-game losing streak — their longest since last season’s eight-game slide from Jan. 2-19.

Before the game, Hurricanes officials confirmed starting goalie Cam Ward will see a back specialist Monday. Ward missed his second straight game after his back stiffened up on a flight from Calgary to Buffalo.

Carolina rallied around its young goalie to win for the sixth time in eight games. Jokinen scored his 20th goal 14:32 in, tying Eric Staal for the team lead.

Jokinen slammed a shot from the slot after Pitkanen’s centering pass deflected off DiPietro’s stick and bounced free in front of the crease. The winger has three goals in four games against the Islanders this season.

Matt Moulson’s right-post tip 1:42 into the second beat Peters. But the officials waved off the goal, saying the whistle blew just prior to puck crossing the goal line.

Nielsen tied it almost 9 minutes later, ending a 12-game goal-less streak with a short-handed marker.

Blake Comeau’s pressure forced a turnover behind Carolina’s net, setting up Nielsen’s shot between the circles for the Islanders’ fifth short-handed goal.

Carolina regrouped and went ahead for good when Dwyer pushed in a shot from the left post with 4:24 left in the second. Zach Boychuk picked up the secondary assist and now has points in two straight games since being recalled from the AHL.

Peters looked poised in the final period, making a sliding pad save on Comeau’s breakaway just 2 minutes into the period.

NOTES: Carolina returns home for three games before the Olympic break and doesn’t play on the road again until March 2 against Toronto. … New York’s power-play unit is just 14 for 100 at home this season for the NHL’s worst scoring percentage.