The New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes meet Monday in Game 2 Eastern Conference NHL Playoffs action at Rogers Arena. Here’s an Islanders vs. Hurricanes prediction.
New York Islanders Team Preview
The New York Islanders come into this one looking to bounce back from their game one loss to the Hurricanes by a final score of 3-1. Mathew Barzal leads the Islanders in scoring with 80 points including 23 goals and 57 assists while Noah Dobson has 70 points with a team-high 60 assists and Brock Nelson’s added 69 points with 34 goals this season. Bo Horvat’s also chipped in 68 points with 33 goals of his own and 35 assists and Kyle Palmieri has 54 points with 30 goals and 24 assists. Ilya Sorokin has posted a 25-19-12 record in goal for the Islanders this season with a 3.01 GAA and a .909 save percentage while Semyon Varlamov is 14-8-4 with a 2.60 GAA and a .918 save percentage this season.
New York Islanders Team Facts
- The Islanders have won eight of their last nine night games.
- The Islanders have covered the puck line in eight of their last nine games against the Hurricanes at PNC Arena.
- The Islanders have lost the third period in each of their last four night games at PNC Arena.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Islanders’ last four games following a road loss.
Carolina Hurricanes Team Preview
The Carolina Hurricanes come into this one looking to take the 2-0 series lead after their win over the Islanders last time out. Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes in scoring with 89 points including 36 goals and 53 assists while Seth Jarvis has 67 points split between 33 goals and 34 assists. Martin Necas has 53 points and Teuvo Teravainen has 53 points, with Necas logging 24 goals while Teravainen has 25 goals. In goal, Frederik Andersen has gone 13-2 with a 1.84 GAA and a .932 save percentage while Antti Raanta is 12-7-2 with a 2.99 GAA and an .872 save percentage and Pyotr Kochetkov is 23-13-4 with a 2.33 GAA and a .911 save percentage.
Carolina Hurricanes Team Facts
- The Hurricanes have won 14 of their last 16 home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in eight of the last nine games between the Islanders and Hurricanes at PNC Arena.
- The favorites have won the third period in each of the last four games between the Islanders and Hurricanes at PNC Arena.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Hurricanes’ last four home games.
Islanders vs. Hurricanes Prediction
I’m on the under in this one. We saw the under cash in game one as it was a bit of a defensive battle and a feeling out process and with the feeling out process gone, I think the defensive gameplan will remain despite these two teams having more offensive styles in the regular season. I think this will be a hard-nosed defensive series as long as it goes, and I think the under is the play here again.