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The NHL schedule always has strange quirks, but this might be among the weirdest: the New York Islanders opened their new arena on November 20, 2021. Five months later, in the final week of the regular season, the Carolina Hurricanes - a division rival! - become the last of the NHL’s other 31 teams to play a game at UBS Arena. The entire Western Conference played here before the Hurricanes did. Figure that one out.
Vital Statistics
| Category | Hurricanes | Bruins |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Hurricanes | Bruins |
| Record | 54-20-8 | 51-26-5 |
| Goals/Game | 3.38 | 3.08 |
| Goals Against/Game | 2.44 | 2.66 |
| Shots/Game | 34.12 | 36.12 |
| Face Off Win % | 53.9% | 54.2% |
| Power Play % (Rank) | 22.0% (13th) | 21.2% (15th) |
| Penalty Kill % (Rank) | 88.0% (1st) | 81.3% (9th) |
| ES Corsi For % | 43.86% | 56.14% |
| ES PDO | 113.44 | 86.56 |
| PIM/Game | 12:00 | 22:00 |
Goaltender #1
| Category | Frederik Andersen | Linus Ullmark |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Frederik Andersen | Linus Ullmark |
| Record | 35-14-3 | 26-10-2 |
| Save % | .922 | .917 |
| GAA | 2.17 | 2.45 |
Goaltender #2
| Category | Antti Raanta | Jeremy Swayman |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Antti Raanta | Jeremy Swayman |
| Record | 15-5-4 | 23-14-3 |
| Save % | .912 | .914 |
| GAA | 2.45 | 2.41 |
Game Notes
- The Hurricanes and Islanders have split the first two games of the season series, both played in Raleigh. Most recently, the Hurricanes did a fantastic Carolina Panthers impersonation on Panthers Night two weeks ago, giving their fans hope with a late Vincent Trocheck goal before surrendering the game-winner to Kyle Palmieri with 14 seconds remaining.
- Speaking of pulling something out of nothing, the Hurricanes’ overtime winner in Newark yesterday dropped their magic number to win the Metropolitan Division down to four, helped by the Rangers’ loss to the Bruins. A win over the Islanders tonight won’t wrap up the division, but it would force the Rangers to run the table in their final three games (Hurricanes, Canadiens and Capitals, all at MSG) to prevent the Hurricanes from hanging a banner.
- Pyotr Kochetkov, you may have heard, posted a comeback win in his first NHL game yesterday. He’ll ride the bench this afternoon, with Antti Raanta making his first appearance against the Islanders this season.
- The Hurricanes have three chances to tie their franchise record for wins (52) and points (112) in a season, both set in the 2005-06 season. The Islanders provide what could be inviting opposition, with the Canes’ loss two weeks ago snapping a five-game Carolina winning streak in the series.
- To record that win, though, they’ll have to overcome some struggles in the back half of back-to-backs. The Hurricanes are finishing their 14th and final set of games on consecutive days this season, and so far they’re 5-5-3 in the second game of a back-to-back.
Projected Lines
Hurricanes
Teuvo Teravainen - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov - Vincent Trocheck - Martin Necas
Nino Niederreiter - Jordan Staal - Jesper Fast
Jordan Martinook - Max Domi - Steven Lorentz
Jaccob Slavin - Tony DeAngelo
Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce
Brendan Smith - Ian Cole
Antti Raanta
Pyotr Kochetkov
Injuries and Scratches: Frederik Andersen (lower body), Jesperi Kotkaniemi (upper body), Ethan Bear (healthy), Derek Stepan (healthy)
Islanders
Anders Lee - Brock Nelson - Josh Bailey
Zach Parise - Mathew Bazal - Kyle Palmieri
Kieffer Bellows - Otto Koivula - Oliver Wahlstrom
Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Ross Johnston
Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock
Zdeno Chara - Noah Dobson
Sebastian Aho - Andy Greene
Semyon Varlamov
Ilya Sorokin
Injuries and Scratches: J.G. Pageau (Covid protocol), Anthony Beauvillier (upper body), Scott Mayfield (lower body), Cal Clutterbuck (IR shoulder), Kenneth Appleby (healthy), Grant Hutton (healthy)
Today’s Officials
Referees: Ghislain Hebert #22, Corey Syvret #23
Linesmen: Dan Kelly #98, Devin Berg #97
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