The New York Islanders warded off elimination and will now look to even their series with the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup at UBS Arena on Friday.
Mathew Barzal scored the game-winning goal late in the second period, and Brock Nelson and Pierre Engvall each also scored in Game 5. Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves in his best performance of the series.
Antti Raanta made just 19 saves in Game 5, and Carolina fell to 1-4 in potential close-out games over the past two seasons.
Here’s the Game 6 outlook for Carolina vs New York.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 6 Odds
NHL odds used for these best bets are current as of April 26, 2023, at 11 a.m. ET, and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Islanders (-120) • Hurricanes (+100)
- Puck Line: Islanders -1.5 (+220) • Hurricanes +1.5 (-260)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 5.5 (+120) • Under 5.5 (-140)
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 6 Prediction
Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1 (OT)
I picked Islanders in seven games before the series, and if the Hurricanes don’t want that to play out, they had better win Game 6. Sorokin, who entered Game 5 with a .909 save percentage and coming off a dreadful performance in Game 4, is starting to look dangerous since Carolina threw everything at him but still couldn’t score more than two goals on 36 shots.
This isn’t the NBA. Underdogs, especially those with all-world goalies, turn around 3-1 deficits in the Stanley Cup playoffs all the time. We saw it in 2010, with the Jaroslav Halák against Washington series, or when Jonathan Quick fueled the Kings’ first-round rally against the Sharks in 2014.
Sorokin should be excellent again in Game 6, since he was the best goalie in the NHL on home ice all season (.936 save percentage, 1.91 goals-against average, 29.7 all-situation goals-saved above average), but Carolina should do just enough to win and advance to the second round.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 6 Best Bets
Hurricanes (+100) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Hurricanes are clearly the better team, proven by their NHL-best 54.4 all-situation Corsi-For percentage and the 53.6 Shots-For percentage, according to Natural Stat Trick. But the longer this goes, the more they’re playing with fire, especially given their surplus of injured offensive weapons.
Carolina entered this series maligned for its inability to win on the road in the playoffs. But the Canes proved they were capable with a dominant 5-1 win at UBS Arena in Game 4 that snapped an inexplicable eight-game postseason road losing streak.
The Game 4 victory took a lot of pressure off Carolina, which has been one of the best road teams in hockey over the past two seasons. I think Raanta and the Hurricanes find a way to squeak past Sorokin and the Islanders and advance to play either the Rangers or Devils.
Take Carolina on the moneyline as our NHL bet of the day.
Under 5.5 Goals (-140) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Over is 3-2 in this series and could’ve hit again in Game 5 if not for Sorokin. But Sorokin isn’t likely to allow more than two goals again in Game 6, especially since Carolina is shooting just 8.2 percent for the series and 5.9 percent at 5-on-5.
Raanta has been good but will need to be great for Carolina to win. Thus, a two-or-fewer goals-against outing will be required.
Offense also tends to dry up as the combination of nerves, defensive adjustments, and stellar goaltending win out. There definitely shouldn’t be more than five goals in this game, and if there is, the Hurricanes are in big trouble.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 5 Preview
The Carolina Hurricanes will try to close out the New York Islanders in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina on Tuesday.
The Canes sent the Isles to the brink with a 5-2 victory in Game 4 where Seth Jarvis scored twice and Sebastian Aho had one goal and two assists. It was Carolina’s first win on the road in the playoffs in two years, after dropping its previous eight away from Raleigh.
Here’s the Game 5 outlook for Carolina vs New York.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 5 Odds
NHL odds used for these best bets are current as of April 22, 2023, at 10 a.m. ET, and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Hurricanes (-165) • Islanders (+140)
- Puck Line: Hurricanes -1.5 (+175) • Islanders +1.5 (-205)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 5.5 (+120) • Under 5.5 (-140)
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 5 Prediction
Hurricanes 4, Islanders 1
The Islanders had every opportunity to claw back into the series, especially early in Game 4. But Antti Raanta, who struggled mightily in Game 3, came up huge, especially in the first period where New York had the first five shots on goal.
The series shifts back to Raleigh, where the Canes have been unstoppable, especially in the playoffs. Carolina has won eight of its past nine home postseason games, including each of the first two against the Islanders.
New York goalie Ilya Sorokin has not been able to steal a game in this series, mainly due to the fact his team is hanging him out to dry defensively. The Hurricanes power play scored twice in the first 22 minutes (they’re firing at 26.7 percent in the series), and Carolina scored a pair of one-on-one goals on the all-everything netminder.
Carolina may have trouble in future rounds due to its catastrophic injury situation, but it should certainly be able to close out the overmatched Isles in Game 5.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 5 Best Bets
Hurricanes -1.5 (+175) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
It’s tough to wager on the puck line this time of the year, especially when everything is so hotly contested. But it’s easier in elimination games, especially where the home team has the chance to close out an overmatched opponent.
New York, which relies on balance and structure, will need to play more desperately, especially if it falls behind in the game’s second half. That’s what happened in Game 4, and the Hurricanes counterpunched effectively, building leads of 4-0 and 5-1.
Plus, Islanders coach Lane Lambert will be forced to pull Sorokin as early as possible in a one- or two-goal game, which leaves the door wide open for at least one series-sealing empty-net goal.
Take Carolina to cover the spread as our NHL bet of the day.
Hurricanes Win in 60 Minutes (+100) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Over has hit in three of the previous four games, and the Under odds are really not friendly, so I’m not advocating anyone bet the total in Game 4. There’s the possibility for another terrible beat, like Under bettors got in Game 3, especially given the potential for multiple empty-net goals for Carolina.
But if you’re uncomfortable about betting Carolina to cover the puck line, but also hate its moneyline odds (-165 is $0.61 profit per $1 wagered), take the Canes to win in regulation as a hedge. The odds are more favorable than the moneyline, and the Hurricanes have won two of the three games in this series in 60 minutes.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 4 Preview
New York Islanders will look to even up their Eastern Conference first-round series when they host Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon at UBS Arena.
New York’s offense exploded for four third-period goals in its 5-1 victory in Game 3. Ilya Sorokin had 30 saves, and Kyle Palmieri and Casey Cizikas each had one goal and one assist for the Islanders.
Jesper Fast scored Carolina’s lone goal, and Antti Raanta made 32 saves. The Hurricanes lost their eighth consecutive road playoff game and are 2-12 in their past 14 non-bubble road postseason games dating back to 2019.
Here’s the Game 4 outlook for Carolina vs New York.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 4 Odds
NHL odds used for these best bets are current as of April 22, 2023, at 9 a.m. ET, and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Islanders (-130) • Hurricanes (+110)
- Puck Line: Islanders -1.5 (+220) • Hurricanes +1.5 (-260)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 5.5 (+120) • Under 5.5 (-140)
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 4 Prediction
Islanders 4, Hurricanes 1
The Islanders appear to have figured out Raanta, and the Hurricanes have a colossal road problem. New York has scored eight goals in its past two games and beaten Raanta seven times on 62 shots against (.887 save percentage).
I wonder if Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour will go with Frederik Andersen instead of Raanta, or if Andersen is well enough to play after missing the past two games due to illness. Andersen went 21-11-1 this season but backed up Raanta for Game 1 before not dressing.
If Andersen is still unwell, rookie Pyotr Kochetkov played 24 games and had a .909 save percentage during the regular season.
Whoever its goaltender ends up being, Carolina still has serious offensive issues, and Sorokin is not the goalie to be facing with goal-scoring deficiencies. Sorokin was the NHL’s best home goalie during the regular season and is officially looking scary with a .933 save percentage and 3.06 all-situation goals-saved above average in the playoffs.
There are far more questions for Carolina than New York at the moment, even though the Canes are still more talented and the favorite to win the series. Throw in the raucous crowd at UBS Arena, and you have all the makings of an even series going to Carolina for Game 5.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 4 Best Bets
Islanders Moneyline (-130) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Only the Bruins and Avalanche have more regular-season road wins than the Hurricanes’ 49 since the start of 2021-22, yet that success has not joined them for their past three playoff rounds.
Part of it is Raanta, who has started all but one playoff game over the past two years yet has an .870 save percentage in seven road games. But Kochetkov squandered his opportunity during the first round in Boston in 2022, and Andersen has really struggled down the stretch, meaning there isn’t a great option in goal for Carolina.
It’s possible that Andersen enters and plays well, the Canes get some depth goal scoring, and they win Game 4 and send New York to the brink of elimination with a renaissance road effort.
But it’s more likely New York keeps the good juju going, protects home ice, and makes this a best-of-three going back to Raleigh.
Take the Isles to knot the series as our NHL bet of the day.
Under 5.5 Total Goals (-140) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Under looked like a lock for almost the whole night, yet it died a cruel and unusual beat for the second straight game when Anders Lee beat Raanta for New York’s fourth goal in a span of 2:18.
Yet, Sorokin is dominating with a .935 save percentage, 29.7 GSAA, and 1.91 goals-against average in the regular season at UBS Arena this season and has a 2.33 GAA in this series. Couple that with Carolina’s offensive injuries, notably forwards Max Pacioretty, Andrei Svechnikov, and Teuvo Teräväinen, who are all out, and I’ll keep banging my head against the Under wall.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 3 Preview
The Carolina Hurricanes will try to put the New York Islanders’ season on the brink in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round as the series shifts to UBS Arena on Friday.
Carolina rallied for a controversial 4-3 win in overtime to take a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-7 series. Jesper Fast scored at 5:03 of the extra session, Jaccob Slavin had one goal and one assist, and Antti Raanta made 23 saves for the Hurricanes, who won for the ninth time in their past 10 home playoff games over the past two seasons.
Here’s the Game 3 outlook for Carolina vs New York.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 3 Odds
NHL lines for these best bets are current as of April 20, 2023, at 10 a.m. ET, and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Hurricanes (-110) • Islanders (-110)
- Puck Line: Hurricanes -1.5 (+240) • Islanders +1.5 (-285)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 5.5 (+120) • Under 5.5 (-140)
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 3 Prediction
Islanders 3, Hurricanes 1
The Hurricanes have been an elite regular-season road team over the past three seasons, with the fifth-best road points percentage (.650) in that span. But that success has not translated to the postseason since Carolina has lost seven straight away from PNC Arena, including all six road games in the 2022 playoffs.
Don’t think that fact isn’t in Carolina’s head, especially given the fact it lost another top-six forward, Teuvo Teräväinen, who won’t play again in the series after breaking his hand in Game 2. Teravainen joins fellow forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Max Pacioretty, on the shelf since each is out for the season with injuries sustained during the regular season.
Much was made about the power-play discrepancy in Game 2, especially after Isles defenseman Scott Mayfield was clipped by Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook‘s high stick mere seconds before Fast’s game-winning goal. New York coach Lane Lambert was critical of the officials after the game, and the Hurricanes had six man-advantages to New York’s zero in Game 2.
Add all that up to what will undoubtedly be a raucous crowd for the inaugural playoff game at UBS Arena, and you have a recipe for New York scoring early, likely on the power play. Look for Ilya Sorokin to be much better as well, and New York to claw back into the series.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 3 Best Bets
Islanders Moneyline (-110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Islanders fell behind 2-0 for the second straight game yet rallied to take a 3-2 third-period lead before Slavin tied it. New York is now 0-6 in its playoff history against Carolina.
Still, the Islanders have been great in the playoffs on Long Island recently. New York has won four of its past five home playoff games and is 8-3 on Long Island in the playoffs since 2019 — each of its wins came at the Nassau Coliseum but its two home playoff losses to the Hurricanes in 2019 were played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
I established the Hurricanes’ recent playoff road struggles, and I do believe they’ll win a road game at some point in the series. But I don’t think it’ll be Friday.
Take the Isles to inch back into the series as our NHL bet of the day.
Under 5.5 Total Goals (-140) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Over was successful in Game 2 due to Carolina’s late comeback. But Sorokin was the best goalie in hockey in home games this season, proven by his league-leading goals-saved above average in all situations (29.7) and second-ranked save percentage (.935) in home games.
Sorokin has been a bit shaky in the series but still has a .932 save percentage and 0.99 GSAA through two games. Plus, the goals he has allowed have been fluky, especially the own goal off New York defenseman Sebsatian Aho‘s stick that was credited to Stefan Noesen in the first period of Game 2.
I would be extremely surprised if Sorokin gives up more than one goal in Game 3, particularly since Carolina won’t have Teräväinen, who had 12 goals and 37 points this season. Raanta has been great for Carolina too, which makes the Under extremely likely, despite the unfavorable odds.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 2 Preview
The Carolina Hurricanes will look to take a commanding lead over the New York Islanders in Game 2 of this Eastern Conference first-round matchup on Wednesday.
Carolina built a two-goal lead and hung on for a 2-1 victory over New York in Game 1 on Monday. The Hurricanes scored both goals on the power play, and goalie Antti Raanta made 25 saves.
Here’s a look at Game 2 odds and predictions for Carolina vs New York.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 2 Odds
NHL odds used for these best bets are current as of April 19, 2023, at 10 a.m. ET, and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Hurricanes (-170) • Islanders (+145)
- Puck Line: Hurricanes -1.5 (+160) • Islanders +1.5 (-190)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 5.5 (+120) • Under 5.5 (-140)
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 2 Prediction
Islanders 3, Hurricanes 2
The Isles looked a bit shell-shocked over the first 25 minutes Monday, taking a pair of penalties, including Ryan Pulock‘s questionable-at-best slashing call. Carolina capitalized by scoring on its first two man-advantages.
I said I thought Ilya Sorokin would need to be exceptional for the Islanders to have a chance in the series, and sure enough he was, making 35 saves in defeat. The Islanders appeared to settle into the game, limiting the Hurricanes to 13 shots over the final 30 minutes and outshooting them 9-8 in the third period.
It was too much for New York to overcome the 2-0 hole it dug itself in Game 1, but the Islanders should be ready to go for Game 2.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 2 Best Bets
Islanders Moneyline (+145) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Hurricanes are 8-1 on home ice over the past two playoff years. However, New York has stood 1-1 after two games in three of its past four playoff series, and I expect that trend to continue with this NHL bet of the day.
Raanta got the Game 1 start over Frederik Andersen, and earned the No. 1 star. But Sorokin is one of the league’s best and has not allowed a 5-on-5 goal yet in the series, and the Islanders have to think they were a marginal penalty call away from overtime despite the fact they were badly outplayed for the first half of Game 1.
If the Isles can stay out of the penalty box, they have to think they’ll be able to win.
Under 5.5 Total Goals (-140) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The odds on this are almost too lousy to take, but this is going to be an extremely low-scoring series given each side’s offense. Plus, if Sorokin is on, the games will be lucky to reach four goals.
If the Over/Under were 4.5 then I’d strongly consider the Over, but the winning team should be the first to three, which means the Under is the play.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 1 Preview
The Metropolitan Division-champion Carolina Hurricanes hope to start their march toward a Stanley Cup championship against the wild-card New York Islanders in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Monday.
Carolina won three of the four head-to-head meetings between the teams, including its 2-1 victory over New York on April 2.
The Islanders qualified for the playoffs for the third time in four seasons thanks to eight wins in their final 13 games.
Here’s a look at the odds for Game 1.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 1 Odds
NHL odds used for these best bets are current as of April 17, 2023, at 9 a.m. ET and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Hurricanes (-165) • Islanders (+140)
- Puck Line: Hurricanes -1.5 (+165) • Islanders +1.5 (-195)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 5.5 (+105) • Under 5.5 (-125)
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 1 Prediction
Hurricanes 3, Islanders 1
This has all the makings of a low-scoring, super-competitive series, but don’t be surprised if Carolina wins Game 1 fairly comfortably. The Hurricanes have won the first game on home ice in three of their past four postseason series, with a 1.75-goal average margin of victory.
Carolina has goaltending question marks, but Frederik Andersen should enter as the Game 1 starter. Andersen, who did not play the entire 2022 postseason due to a lower-body injury, had a .905 save percentage in three starts against the Islanders.
The Islanders were not a good road team during the regular season, going just 17-18-6 and finishing with the ninth-worst Expected Goals percentage (46.3) in all situations. Goalie Ilya Sorokin will likely need to be exceptional for the Isles to win the series, but he is just 2-4 with a 2.88 goals-against average in his career against Carolina.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 1 Best Bets
Under 5.5 Goals (-125) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Carolina is an elite defensive team, and New York has one of the world’s best goalies. Plus, neither team lights up the scoreboard anyway, so the tone should be set with a low-scoring Game 1.
The Hurricanes finished 15th in the NHL in goals but only averaged 2.6 goals per game over their final 19 games after forward Andrei Svechknikov tore his ACL in mid-March. The Islanders had the 10th-fewest goals in the NHL.
Plus, it’s the playoffs, which means fewer goals and more tight defense. So it would be surprising if any game in this series surpasses six goals.
Hurricanes Win In 60 Minutes (+100) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Carolina could cover the puck-line, but this is a solid hedge as a three-way wager, given the odds and potential for a one-sided game.
Plus, I try to avoid betting a spread and an Under together, lest a late-game comeback hedge against the Under bet, so taking the Canes to win in regulation requires one fewer Carolina goal.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Series Preview
The Metropolitan Division-champion Carolina Hurricanes will take on the upstart wild card New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference first round.
Carolina and New York have only previously met in the playoffs one time when the Hurricanes swept the Isles in the 2019 second round. The Hurricanes finished 20 points better than the Isles, who earned the No. 1 wild card by one point over the Florida Panthers and by two over the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins, who each finished tied for ninth place.
The Hurricanes went 3-1 against the Islanders in the regular season but only outscored New York by a 12-9 margin over four games.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Series Odds
To Win Series: Hurricanes (-205) • Islanders (+165)
Hockey lines used for these best bets are current as of April 16 at 9 a.m. ET and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Carolina is the clear favorite due to the fact it won the season series and finished with the second-most regular-season points in the NHL. New York went just 5-4-1 down the stretch.
The Hurricanes are an elite possession team, boasting the NHL’s No. 1 Expected Goals percentage (57.4), Shots-For percentage (55.5), and Corsi-For percentage (59.9) at all-situations.
But the Islanders have the great X-factor in goalie Ilya Sorokin, who is likely to finish among the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy. Sorokin finished second in the NHL in Goals-Saved Above Average (36.1), eighth in goals-against average (2.34), and fourth in save percentage (.924) among qualifying goalies.
The Hurricanes dominate the advanced metrics but also finished with the sixth-worst team shooting percentage (9.2), and the lowest among all playoff teams. They also may have trouble without forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Max Pacioretty, who are each out for the series.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Series Prediction
Islanders Win 4-3
I love the Hurricanes, but their offensive struggles, especially since Svechnikov went down, are too much to overcome. Sorokin stealing the series is probably the most likely occurrence since at least one wild card has won a playoff round every year since the NHL switched its playoff format in 2013-14.
The Islanders have a punchy-enough offense, led by midseason acquisition Bo Horvat, who had seven goals and 16 points in 30 games after coming over from Vancouver. They also will have star forward Mathew Barzal, who has not played since Feb. 18, back for Game 1 of the series.
Much of New York’s core is still intact from its run to the Eastern Conference final in 2021. The Isles sure won’t be intimidated by the stage or Hurricanes.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Series Best Bets
Islanders Win Series (+165) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
If they’re going to win the series, the ‘Canes step on New York’s throat early. The longer Sorokin and the Islanders are in the series, the scarier it’ll be for the Canes and their fans.
The Isles may be a trendy upset NHL bet with Sorokin and the Hurricanes’ goal-scoring difficulties. Carolina is averaging just 2.8 goals per game over its final 25 regular-season games.
