Islanders 5, Hurricanes 3: Brock Nelson collected two goals and two assists while offseason acquisition Johnny Boychuk and captain John Tavares recorded three-point performances as visiting New York emerged victorious in the season opener for both teams.

Boychuk scored a goal and set up two others while Tavares notched three assists for the Islanders, who host Carolina on Saturday in the back end of the home-and-home series. Mikhail Grabovski and defenseman Travis Hamonic also tallied and Ryan Strome set up a pair of goals as New York improved to 18-5-2 in its last 25 road contests.

Signed to a four-year, $18 million deal in May, Jaroslav Halak (21 saves) paid immediate dividends by stopping the first 17 shots he faced before Nathan Gerbe deflected defenseman Justin Faulk's blast during a power play 1:25 into the third period to trim the Islanders' lead to 3-1. Grabovski and Hamonic tallied just over seven minutes apart to put the game out of reach before Chris Terry and captain Eric Staal capped the scoring.

Acquired from Boston on Saturday, Boychuk opened the scoring with his new team enjoying a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity. The defenseman unleashed a blast from above the left faceoff circle that sailed between the pads of Cam Ward (21 saves) with 2:54 remaining in the first period.

The ensuing man advantage had just concluded before Nelson, while in the slot, deposited a brilliant pass from the left circle by Tavares over the glove of Ward with 66 seconds left in the session to double the lead. Nelson concluded his first career two-goal performance at 7:38 of the second period, as Boychuk's blast caromed off him and past Ward for a power-play tally.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Boychuk became the first Islanders defenseman to record three points in his debut with the club since Doug Crossman accomplished the feat versus the Minnesota North Stars on Oct. 5, 1989. ... New York RW Michael Grabner is sidelined indefinitely after undergoing sports hernia surgery, Newsday reported. The 27-year-old Austrian collected 12 goals and 14 assists in 64 games last season. ... Carolina D Andrej Sekera notched a pair of assists in the loss.