Evgeny Kuznetsov. James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Evgeny Kuznetsov's penalty-shot goal worth the wait

By Paul Harris | Last updated 4/30/24

It took a while, but Evgeny Kuznetsov's penalty-shot goal with 6:38 remaining in the first period gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-1 lead over the New York Islanders in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

It took 11 seconds from the time Kuznetsov picked up the puck at center ice until he scored.

WORTH THE WAIT pic.twitter.com/UU8Cp3M4nB
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 1, 2024

Kuznetsov was awarded the penalty shot when an Islanders player closed his hand on the puck while it was in the New York crease during a goal-mouth scramble.

Kuznetsov beat Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov for the score.

It is the second playoff year in a row that Carolina has had a penalty-shot goal.

In Game 3 of the Hurricanes second-round series against the New Jersey Devils last year, Jordan Martinook scored on a penalty shot against goalie Vitek Vanecek.

The winner of the Carolina-New York series will play the New York Rangers in the second round. The Rangers swept the Washington Capitals in the first round.

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