Two teams that split their season series 2-2 a year ago, the New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes take the ice at PNC Arena in a divisional matchup. The match gets going at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 28 and it can be watched live on MSG Network.
New York Islanders vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
With a -200 moneyline, Carolina enters the matchup as the noticeable favorite. The line for New York sits at +170 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-125 for the over, +105 for the under).
Netting 1.4 units for moneyline bettors, the Hurricanes are 6-4 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Metropolitan Division so far in the early season, is a welcomed improvement compared to how the team performed during last year’s regular season (36-46). Through 10 regular season matches, six of its games have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 3-2 SU at home so far this year.
Carolina’s converted on just 11.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places the team in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 66.7 percent of all penalties.
Carolina, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.9 times per game this season. Last year, the club posted the lowest mark in the league with 2.7 penalties per game. After serving an average of 6.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to kill penalties for 8.1 minutes per outing this season.
With a .885 save percentage and 20.5 saves per game, Petr Mrazek (3-3-1) has been the most dependable goalkeeper for the Hurricanes this season. If head coach Rod Brind Amour decides to give him the evening off, however, the team might roll with Curtis McElhinney (3-1-1 record, .892 save percentage, 2.76 goals against average).
The Canes will continue to rely on offensive production from Sebastian Aho and Micheal Ferland. Aho (15 points) has produced four goals and 11 assists and has recorded multiple points three times this year. Ferland has six goals and four assists to his credit and has notched a point in seven games.
Over on the visiting bench, New York is 4-5 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of five of its outings have gone under the total, while three have gone over and none have pushed. New York’s 3-3 SU as a road team this season.
New York’s recorded a goal on 23.1 percent of its power play chances this year after converting on 23.2 percent of its extra-man opportunities in 2017-18 (when the team ranked seventh league-wide in that category). The team has gone from successfully defending 73.2 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 31st overall last season) to 74.1 percent in 2018-19.
New York’s skaters have been penalized 4.4 times per game this season, a number that’s risen some from the 3.4 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 7.8 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a taxing 12.6 minutes per outing this season.
Robin Lehner (2.39 goals against average and .929 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for New York. Lehner is averaging 30.7 saves per game and has three wins, three losses, and one OT loss to his credit.
Mathew Barzal (one goal, nine assists) has been one of the top offensive facilitators for the visiting Islanders.
New York Islanders vs. Carolina Hurricanes Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Over
