New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes: Game preview, predictions, odds and betting tips for 2024 NHL playoffs Game 2 | April 22nd, 2024

The Carolina Hurricanes (52-23-7, second in the Metropolitan Division) have a 27-10-4 home record. They will host the New York Islanders (39-27-16, third) with an 18-17-6 away record.

The match will be held at PNC Arena in Raleigh for Game 2 of the NHL playoffs first round at 7.30 p.m. ET. It will be aired on TVAS2, ESPN2, SN360, BSSO and MSGSN.

The Hurricanes lead the series 1-0. In their last encounter on Saturday, the Canes won with a 3-1 scoreline at PNC Arena.

New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes: Game preview

The New York Islanders ended the regular season in third place in the Metropolitan standings, having won eight of their last nine regular season games. However, they suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Hurricanes on the road in the first game of their first-round playoff series on Saturday.

New York Islanders made 34 shots on goal and failed to score in two power play opportunities. With the score tied at 1-1 entering the final period, Islanders' goalie Semyon Varlamov, who made 23 saves, let in a goal early in the third. The team was unable to make a comeback.

The Islanders' rookie center Kyle MacLean netted the sole goal in the first period, which brought the game to a 1-1 tie. New York averages just under three goals per game this season, but their penalty kill ranks among the lowest in the NHL. Anders Lee had one assist and seven shots on goal in the first game.

Kyle Palmieri has found the back of the net in six of the Islanders' last seven night games. Brock Nelson has recorded an assist in four of the Islanders' last five night games. He tallied at least one point in nine of the Islanders' last 10 games as underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents.

Mathew Barzal has scored two goals against the Hurricanes this season, matching his highest total against any opponent.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes finished the regular season in second place in the Metro standings, only three points behind the first-place Rangers.

They kicked off their playoff run with a solid home win in game one and have won eight of their last ten games. Goalie Frederik Andersen successfully blocked 33 shots on goal from the Islanders, achieving a save percentage of 92% to secure the victory.

The Hurricanes scored the first goal just 1:35 into the first period of the game, a power play goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov. But they didn't add to their tally until the third period.

Carolina took 26 shots on goal and converted one of their three power play opportunities. They are one of the stronger defensive teams in the NHL, with a penalty kill success rate of 86.4%. The Hurricanes have a strong record in home playoff games, winning 12 of their last 16.

Martin Necas was the top performer for Carolina, scoring one goal, providing one assist, and taking three shots on goal. Jake Guentzel has been a consistent goal scorer, finding the back of the net in seven of his last nine playoff appearances.

Sebastian Aho leads the Metropolitan Division in plus/minus (+34). Brady Skjei has been a key player for the Hurricanes. He has recorded at least one assist in his last six appearances when he played less than 20 minutes in the Hurricanes' last game.

New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes: Injury report

The Hurricanes have Jasper Fast dealing with an upper-body injury. On the other hand, the Islanders are facing their injury challenges. Scott Mayfield is sidelined with a lower-body injury, and the status of Jean Gabriel Pageau is unclear due to a lower-body injury.

New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes: Head-to-head and significant numbers

The Islanders and the Hurricanes have faced each other 160 times in regular season and playoff games. The Islanders hold a record of 67-76-9-8 against the Hurricanes.

Regarding penalty kills, the Islanders have a success rate of 71.5%, while the Hurricanes are 86.4%, earning the top spot in the league rankings.

New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes: Odds and prediction

Carolina Hurricanes has been the odds favorite in 76 games, winning 50. The team won 17 out of 18 games when the odds were shorter than -246. This gives the team a 71.1% chance of winning this game.

On the other hand, the New York Islanders have been considered the underdogs in 44 games, yet they have managed to pull off 20 upsets. New York has played a game with odds of +202 or longer once this season, which it lost. This gives the team a 32.3% probability of winning this match.

Prediction: Islanders 3 - 2 Hurricanes

New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes: Betting tips

Tip 1: Islanders to win

Tip 2: Total goals over 4.5: Yes

Tip 3: Mathew Barzal to score anytime: Yes

Tip 4: Sebastian Aho to score first: Yes

Tip 5: Hurricanes to beat the spread: Yes