News » three-game sweep.

RALEIGH, N.C. - These New York Islanders didnt look much like the team that finished last year in last place.Which makes sense: So many of the contributors Friday night werent with them when last season ended.Johnny Boychuk had a goal and two assists in his Islanders debut, leading them past the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3.Brock Nelson began his second NHL season with two goals and two assists, but three other Islanders who played key roles in this one werent around for the end of last year.Free-agent signee Mikhail Grabovski had a goal, trade acquisition Jaroslav Halak made 21 saves, and John Tavares had three assists in his return after injuring a knee during the Olympics.This is a big starting point for us, the new faces contributed, and thats why theyre here, Nelson said. If we get more than a couple guys on the score sheet, were going to be a pretty good hockey club.Travis Hamonic also scored a goal for the Islanders, who scored twice on the power play.Boychuk a€” picked up from Boston last week for draft picks a€” and Nelson scored 1:48 apart in the first period.Nelson later added a deflected goal off a Boychuk shot in the second to put New York up 3-0 and in control of this matchup of the Metropolitan Divisions two worst teams last year.Johnny came in and just kind of fit in right away, Tavares said.Eric Staal, Nathan Gerbe and Chris Terry scored third-period goals while Cam Ward made 21 saves for the Hurricanes.New coach Bill Peters said losing his NHL head coaching debut felt not great right now, actually because Carolina took a couple of penalties that put us behind the 8-ball, couldnt kill them, and gave them momentum.Carolina briefly made this interesting, making it 3-1 just 1:25 into the third when Gerbe deflected Justin Faulks slap shot past Halak.But Grabovski restored the Islanders three-goal lead at 5:11 after he was left alone in front of Ward, and Hamonic made it 5-1 with 7:41 remaining. Staals goal came with 1:34 to play.We were trying to use the momentum, Staal said. When you get one, you feel the energy coming in the building, and the crowds into it. ... (Grabovskis goal) was tough.Andrej Sekera added two assists for the Hurricanes, who are ushering in a new era: Jim Rutherford a€” the only general manager the club had known since it moved from Hartford in 1997 a€” stepped aside during the off-season to make way for prot??g?? Ron Francis, then took the GMs job with Metropolitan Division rival Pittsburgh.Francis fired Kirk Muller after 2 1/2 seasons and brought in Peters from Detroits staff. The roster was mostly left intact, though two key faces were missing: Jordan Staal (broken leg) and Jeff Skinner (concussion).The Islanders had eight players on the roster making their debuts a€” and so many of them did so much of the work in this one.Halak, brought in to replace Evgeni Nabokov, was at times spectacular in goal. Grabovski, signed to a four-year deal after a 13-goal season in Washington, scored his momentum-changing goal when the Hurricanes were caught in a line change.That came after Boychuk had a hand in each of the first three goals.He blasted a slap shot between Wards pads for a 5-on-3 goal with 2:54 left in the first.Its not like Im going to sauce it through the middle of the ice, the notoriously heavy-shooting Boychuk said. Im probably not that kind of guy.He later assisted on Nelsons goal with 1:06 remaining in the period.Tavares took a pass from Boychuk and slipped a cross-ice pass between Faulks legs to Nelson, who beat Ward high to make it 2-0.The Islanders pushed the lead to 3-0 with 12:22 left in the second when Boychuk uncorked a power-play shot that clipped Nelsons knee and got past Ward.NOTES: C Ryan Strome added two assists for New York. ... Carolina has lost five of its last six openers, and has given up five goals in three of its last four openers. ... The Islanders improved to 11-21-10 in openers. ... The teams meet again Saturday night in Uniondale, New York.___Follow Joedy McCreary on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joedyap Dominic Moore Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a course-record 10-under 62 on Wednesday to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Max Domi Jersey . -- Phil Hughes ended a personal losing streak that dated to last July, pitching into the seventh inning Sunday and helping the Twins top the Kansas City Royals 8-3 to avoid a three-game sweep. http://www.officialcanadiensfanstore.com/authentic-paul-byron-canadiens-jersey/ . -- The Phoenix Coyotes have won three in a row for the first time in 4 1/2 months, and theyve done it just in time for the stretch run to the playoffs. Henri Richard Jersey . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. Phillip Danault Jersey .Y. -- As if the worst start in franchise history isnt bad enough, Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black braced his teams win-starved fans for potentially more tough times.ROME -- Roger Federers focus appeared to drift away from the Foro Italico. And that was understandable. After all, the 17-time Grand Slam winner was playing for the first time since the birth of his second set of twins last week. Federer let a lead to slip away and was beaten 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) Wednesday in the second round of the Italian Open by 47th-ranked Jeremy Chardy of France. When Federers boys, Leo and Lenny, were born, the fourth-ranked Swiss player withdrew from last weeks Madrid Open. He only decided to come to Rome a few days ago. "This one is totally OK if it doesnt hurt," Federer said. "I tried everything. I cant do more than that on the court." Federer had a match point in the tiebreaker but Chardy saved it with an improbable cross-court forehand on the run when it looked like Federer was about to close the match out. "That passing shot is a tough one for me to take, because hes not going to make that very often," Federer said. "But it happens and credit to him to fight his way back into the match and get it." Later, top-ranked Rafael Nadal also faced stiff resistance from his French opponent before ultimately wearing down 30th-ranked Gilles Simon for a 7-6 (1), 6-7 (4), 6-2 win that lasted 3 hours, 18 minutes -- opening his bid for an eighth Rome title. Nadal hit 32 winners but just three with his backhand, which has become a point of concern recently. Also, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray eliminated Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-2, 7-5. Womens title-holder Serena Williams showed no problems -- and no taping -- from a left thigh injury that forced her to withdraw from Madrid. The top-ranked American beat 28th-ranked Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-2. "Im not 100 per cent but Im getting there," Williams said, adding that the conditions at the U.S. Open prepared her for the heavy wind gusts at the Foro Italico. "If I can play in New York, I can play anywhere." Maria Sharapova, the 2011 and 2012 Rome champion, had to rally in the second set to get by Puerto Rican qualifier Monica Puig 6-3, 7-5. After cruising through the first set, Federer began to commit unforced errors at an alaarming rate and Chardy quickly took advantage.dddddddddddd "I wasnt able to stretch the lead when I had it," Federer said. Federer committed 43 unforced errors -- 20 in the second set alone -- to Chardys 28. Federer also struggled to dictate play with his first serve. "But at the end, it was shot here or there that decided the match," Federer said. Chardy hadnt beaten a top-10 player since defeating Juan Martin del Potro in the third round of last years Australian Open. Federer and wife Mirka also have twin girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, who turn 5 in July. But even with all the family distractions, Federer didnt appear worried about his preparations for the French Open, which starts in 11 days. "Everything is under control," Federer said, recalling that he reached the final of the Monte Carlos Masters last month. "I still feel good, my body is good, my mind is good and its just unfortunate for one passing shot today I dont get another opportunity to play this week." Also advancing was 11th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who edged Kevin Anderson of South Africa 7-6 (14), 7-6 (5); and 12th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, who eliminated Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6 (3), 6-4; and 15th-seeded Tommy Haas, who defeated Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands, 7-6 (6), 6-1. In womens play, third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska beat Paula Ormaechea of Argentina 6-3, 6-2 and will next face 2010 French Open winner Francesca Schiavone, who rallied past Garbine Muguruza 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5). Fourth-seeded Simona Halep rallied past American opponent Madison Keys 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 then withdrew from the tournament due to abdominal muscle injury. Tenth-seeded Sara Errani swept aside Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3; and 13th-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro beat 1999 champion Venus Williams 6-4, 6-2. Suarez Navarro then advanced to the quarterfinals upon Haleps withdrawal. Also, Varvara Lepchenko upset 16th-seeded Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-2 in an all-American match; American qualifier Christina McHale rallied to beat Italian wild card Camila Giorgi 1-6, 6-3, 6-1; and Australian veteran Sam Stosur defeated Elena Vesnina of Russia 6-2, 6-3. 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