While not a playoff "Game 5," the two teams met recently at the end of the 2025–26 regular season:

: Carolina edged out a 2-1 win. Mark Jankowski scored the go-ahead goal in the third, while Bo Horvat scored his 300th career goal for the Islanders.

: Made 22 saves to secure the series-clinching win.

: Despite showing resilience to tie the game in the second period, the Islanders were outscored 10-1 in third periods throughout the series. Recent 2025–26 Matchups

: At 4:36 of the third period, Jack Drury scored to make it 4-3. Immediately after the ensuing face-off, a strange bounce off a stanchion allowed Stefan Noesen to tap the puck into an open net, quickly extending the lead to 5-3. Key Performers : Seth Jarvis : Recorded three points (1 goal, 2 assists). Evgeny Kuznetsov : Scored on a rare playoff penalty shot.