William Carrier had waited more than a month for his first goal of the season. When it finally arrived Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes couldn't have asked for much better timing.
With the score tied late in the third period against the New York Islanders, Carrier followed an Andrei Svechnikov shot to the net and buried the rebound to put Carolina ahead 4-3. The Hurricanes added an empty-net goal and escaped UBS Arena with a 5-3 victory.
It was Carrier's first goal of the year, and it came in a game that provided another interesting look at his role in Carolina's lineup.
The Hurricanes projected Carrier alongside Sebastian Aho and Svechnikov on their top line entering Thursday's game. That's a pretty significant assignment for a forward whose NHL career has largely been built around physical play, forechecking and making life difficult for opposing defenders.
Carrier isn't suddenly being asked to become one of Carolina's most talented offensive players. Aho and Svechnikov already have that covered. What he can offer is a different element alongside them.
A player willing to get into difficult areas, chase down loose pucks and create problems around the crease can be valuable next to skilled forwards who generate opportunities. Carrier's winning goal offered a pretty straightforward example.
Svechnikov created the initial chance. Semyon Varlamov made the save. Carrier was waiting near the crease and finished the rebound on his backhand. There wasn't anything especially elaborate about it, but Carolina needed somebody to make that play.
The Hurricanes had already watched a two-goal lead disappear earlier in the game. Logan Stankoven and Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored in the opening four minutes, only for the Islanders to battle back and tie it in the second period.
Svechnikov restored Carolina's advantage, but Victor Eklund answered for New York before the intermission. By the time Carrier scored with 5:08 remaining, the Hurricanes were trying to avoid letting another winnable game slip away.
Carrier also picked up an assist, giving him two points on a night when Carolina needed contributions throughout its lineup.
The Hurricanes improved to 13-3-2, having won five of their past six games. They did so despite another performance that coach Rod Brind'Amour wasn't entirely satisfied with, following a 4-1 loss to Nashville earlier in the week.
That's worth keeping in mind when evaluating Carrier's night. Carolina didn't dominate from start to finish, and the winning goal doesn't erase the stretches when the Islanders had the Hurricanes scrambling.
But the result does provide another reason to examine what Carrier can offer when he's given opportunities alongside Carolina's top offensive players. Nobody should expect him to suddenly start scoring at Aho's or Svechnikov's rate. That's never been his game.
If he can continue helping those players create offence through his work around the net while contributing the occasional goal himself, Carolina may have a useful combination.
Carrier waited until November for his first goal of the season. It turned out to be one the Hurricanes badly needed.