Hurricanes at Islanders: Game Preview, Lines, Notes, Statistics, How to Watch

Carolina Hurricanes (23-20-7) at New York Islanders (22-18-9)

Saturday, February 4, 2017 - 7:00 pm

Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY

FOX Sports Carolinas, MSG+, 99.9 The Fan - WRALSportsFan Web and App

SB Nation Rival Blog: Lighthouse Hockey

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Game Notes

• Another all-important 4 point swing game will take place for the Hurricanes tonight, this time they are in New York facing a team they are tied with in the standings. Look for both teams to come out with fire and passion as they both will want to win this game for sure.
• The Canes and Islanders are both coming off the front end of a back to back and both had to travel in to New York last night. That will put them on even grounds as far as rest goes but still whichever team is able to find that extra few drops of gas in the tank will likely be the team that comes out on top.
• Eddie Lack is the likely starter tonight for the Hurricanes. While nothing has been confirmed yet all signs would point to Lack returning to the net for the first time since November 6^th. The only reason Lack would not start tonight is if Peters feels Cam Ward, his proven starter, coming off a good start last night gives the Hurricanes a better chance to win in a near must win matchup. Stay tuned on the goaltending situation for tonight.
• The Islanders will be in the same situation with their goaltending tonight. We expect that Jean-Francois Berube will likely get the start in the second half of the back to back. Unlike Ward, the Islanders starter Thomas Greiss did not have a good night last night in a 5-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
• New York will be without Cal Clutterbuck tonight, who left last night’s game with a lower-body injury. Clutterbuck has just returned to the lineup after missing the game before last night so he appears to be dealing with a lingering injury.
• Sebastian Aho seems to have eaten his Wheaties or spinach over the All Star break because he has been a force to be reckoned with since the break ended. 4 goals over 2 games shows Aho is finally getting adjusted to NHL life and he poses a threat whenever he is on the ice. This is especially good for the Hurricanes considering Jeff Skinner has been somewhat quiet as of late.
• In a game both teams want desperately and where both teams are on the second part of a back to back, tonight’s game has the makings of a rough physical, low scoring game. Both teams will push hard to win this one in regulation. The Hurricanes have struggled on the road this season but they have a little momentum right now, something has to give either way there so let’s hope the post All-Star break road games are nicer to the Hurricanes than before the break.

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Projected Lines

Carolina Hurricanes

Jeff Skinner -- Derek Ryan -- Lee Stempniak

Brock McGinn -- Victor Rask -- Teuvo Teravainen

Sebastian Aho -- Jordan Staal -- Elias Lindholm

Joakim Nordstrom -- Jay McClement -- Viktor Stalberg

Jaccob Slavin -- Brett Pesce

Ron Hainsey -- Justin Faulk

Noah Hanifin -- Klas Dahlbeck

Eddie Lack

Cam Ward

Scratched: Matt Tennyson, Ryan Murphy, Ty Rattie

Injured: Bryan Bickell (illness)

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New York Islanders

Anders Lee -- John Tavares -- Josh Bailey

Anthony Beauvillier -- Brock Nelson -- Ryan Strome

Andrew Ladd -- Alan Quine -- Jason Chimera

Nikolay Kulemin -- Casey Cizikas -- Shane Prince

Nick Leddy -- Johnny Boychuk

Calvin de Haan -- Dennis Seidenberg

Thomas Hickey -- Adam Pelech

Jean-Francois Berube

Thomas Greiss

Scratched: Scott Mayfield, Stephen Gionta

Injured: Travis Hamonic (knee), Cal Clutterbuck (lower body)