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Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders: Game Preview and Discussion

The Hurricanes come off of a flat loss in Newark last night to take on another division rival in the New York Islanders in the first game of a three game homestand against Metro opponents.

Jamie Kellner

The Hurricanes play their second game with massive playoff implications in 24 hours tonight as they take on the Islanders in PNC. A win tonight will push them further ahead of the closely trailing Isles, while a regulation loss would allow the Islanders to leapfrog the Canes in the unforgiving playoff race.


Vital Statistics

Category Hurricanes Bruins
Category Hurricanes Bruins
Record 8-6 11-5
Goals/Game 2.79 3.31
Goals Against/Game 2.71 2.06
Shots/Game 30.9 34.3
Faceoff % 49.1% 53.3%
Power Play % (Rank) 10.0% (14) 31.9% (1)
Penalty Kill % (Rank) 70.8% (14) 85.7% (4)
ES Corsi For % 55.61% 51.66%
ES PDO 101.2% 101.0
PIM/Game 8:38 6:30

Goaltender #1

Category Petr Mrazek Tuukka Rask
Category Petr Mrazek Tuukka Rask
Record 5-5 11-5
Save % .894 .939
GAA 2.73 1.96

Goaltender #2

Category Curtis McElhinney Jaroslav Halak
Category Curtis McElhinney Jaroslav Halak
Record 3-1 0-0
Save % .943 N/A
GAA 1.70 N/A

Game Notes

  • The Hurricanes lead all-time against the Islanders, with a 71-49-17-2 record, including a 35-25-9-1 record on home ice.
  • Tonight’s matchup is the third of four games between the two sides this season. The teams split the first two games in November, losing the first in New York and winning the second on home ice. The last matchup of the season will come on March 18th in Brooklyn.
  • The Canes won the 2016-17 season series with a 3-1-1 record.
  • The two teams have combined for 65 goals in their last eight meetings, dating back to February of 2016.
  • The Canes have earned a point in 10 of their last 12 matchups against the Islanders, going 7-3-2 in that span. Dating back to the 2008-09 season, the Hurricanes are a dominant 28-3-7 against New York.
  • Jaccob Slavin has earned seven points (4g, 3a) in 10 NHL games against the Islanders, including his only career hat trick in March of 2017.
  • Tonight in the NHL has huge playoff significance for both teams. An Islanders win in regulation would propel them over the Hurricanes, while a Canes win in any fashion would further the gap between the two teams. Elsewhere in the Metropolitan Division, the Flyers and Blue Jackets play. Columbus is currently tied with the Isles, just one point in back of the Hurricanes in the the second Wild Card spot.

Lines and Rosters

The Hurricanes did not hold a morning skate coming off of a game last night. The only swap we can anticipate is for Ward to draw in after Darling got the start last night.

Teuvo Teravainen - Jordan Staal - Sebastian Aho
Brock McGinn - Victor Rask - Justin Williams
Jeff Skinner - Elias Lindholm - Phil Di Guissepe
Joakim Nordstrom - Derek Ryan - Lee Stempniak

Jaccob Slavin - Brett Pesce
Haydn Fleury - Justin Faulk
Noah Hanifin - Trevor van Riemsdyk

Cam Ward

Scott Darling

Scratches: Klas Dahlbeck (healthy), Patrick Brown (healthy)


The Islanders are coming off of a game last night in which Halak made 50(!) saves on his way to a shutout win against the Rangers. We can expect to see Greiss in net tonight behind the same lines that got the job done last night.

Anders Lee - John Tavares - Josh Bailey
Anthony Beauvillier - Mathew Barzal - Jordan Eberle
Andrew Ladd - Brock Nelson - Tanner Fritz
Ross Johnston - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck

Nick Leddy - Johnny Boychuk
Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock
Thomas Hickey - Dennis Seidenberg

Thomas Greiss
Jaroslav Halak