Islanders vs Hurricanes Preview: Fishing For an Upset
Islanders Could Be the Better Team Despite NHL Playoffs Odds
Carolina Favored Though Islanders are Popular ‘Dogs’
The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs odds peg the Carolina Hurricanes as the -210 favorites to win the first-round series against the New York Islanders (+175). Carolina opened at -200 and has been bet down. But depending on where you look, the Islanders have plenty of support based on what both fans and media members are saying. Keep a close watch on Islanders vs Hurricanes previews as these betting lines may change.
Islanders vs Hurricanes 
Date & Time:
Location: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC (Game 1)
Streaming: ESPN 2
Goals Will Be Few and Far in Between in This Hurricanes-Islanders Series
Many expect this series to be one of the most competitive. The NHL betting lines favor the Hurricanes to dispatch the Islanders in five games (+375). The Islanders winning in six or seven games are both at +600. It could still be a close series with many if not most games decided by just one goal, as both offenses are struggling heading to this series.
The Carolina Hurricanes won three of their four NHL regular-season games against the Islanders. The last game was a 2-1 win for Carolina, which featured the current versions of these teams. Carolina is without star forward Andrei Svechnikov and the Islanders have Bo Horvat, formerly the Canucks‘ leading scorer at the time of the deal.
Svechnikov’s absence has hurt Carolina. The team went 9-8-1 and nearly lost the division in the NHL standings in the final 18 games without him. The Hurricanes’ goal-scoring dropped to 2.72 per game (26th overall) and the power play plummeted to just 10.9 percent, the second-worst mark in this span. But guess which team was worse during this span? The Islanders at just 9.7 percent.
Scoring may be at its lowest in this series, which is why the total of 5.5 goals is heavily favored to go under for Game 1 at -130. Sebastian Aho (+275) and Martin Necas (+450) are expected to be among the scoring leaders here for Carolina while Matthew Barzal (+550), Brock Nelson, and Horvat (both at +650) lead the Isles.
But none of Carolina’s players can be considered “pure goal scorers” and are more playmakers. The Canes led the NHL in corsi and were top-five in scoring chances on 5-on-5. But they rank near the bottom in shooting percentage. To win the series, the team needs to improve on its ability to finish. Ilya Sorokin may just continue to frustrate them.
Goaltending Could Be the Difference in This Series
Even if the Hurricanes improved on their scoring prowess, Sorokin could be the difference-maker here. The Isles’ netminder had another stellar campaign. He led the NHL in shutouts (six) and finished third in save percentage (SV%) (92.4 percent) and second in goals saved above average (36). Most Islanders vs Hurricanes previews will tout him as the best player in this series.
However, he’s typically struggled against the Hurricanes. In six career games against Carolina, Sorokin has a 90.8 SV% and averages nearly three goals allowed on average. The New York Islanders average 2.95 goals per game this season so Carolina can aim to score three per game against Sorokin. That’s easier said than done and it should also include their own goaltenders being up to par.
Antti Raanta will likely start for the Hurricanes. Since the All-Star Break, Raanta is 6-1-0 in his eight appearances. He posted a 93.1 SV% and allowed more than two goals just once (his only defeat). He played well in last year’s playoffs though he did fade in Carolina’s final four games against the Rangers, which led to their eliminations.
In that series, Igor Shesterkin stonewalled Carolina and allowed just 12 goals against the 234 shots he faced (94.9 SV%). Sorokin is going to be a Vezina Finalist this season. Odds list him at 35-1 to win the Conn Smythe Trophy for the Islanders. He’s taken a big chunk of this Islanders vs Hurricanes preview for a reason. And if he plays as brilliantly as his compatriot did for the other New York team, it may be an upset.
Follow us on Twitter
