Two teams that split their head-to-head series (two games apiece) last year, the New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes meet at PNC Arena for a Metropolitan Division matchup. The action will get underway at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 28, and it is being televised live on MSG Network.
New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Carolina (-200) is currently favored over New York (+170) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -125 over, +105 under.
Carolina is 6-4 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.4 units this year. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 36-46 record from last year’s regular season campaign. 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’s 3-2 SU at home this season.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 11.4 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 29th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 31st overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 66.7 percent of all penalties.
The Hurricanes, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game this season. Last year, they posted the lowest figure in the league with 2.7 penalties per game. After serving an average of 6.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for 8.1 minutes per outing this year.
Sporting a .885 save percentage and 20.5 saves per game, Petr Mrazek (3-3-1) has been the primary goalkeeper for Carolina this season. If the Canes choose to give him the evening off, however, head coach Rod Brind Amour might turn to Curtis McElhinney (3-1-1 record, .892 save percentage, 2.76 goals against average).
Sebastian Aho and Micheal Ferland will both lead the charge for the Hurricanes. Aho (15 points) has put up four goals and 11 assists and has recorded two or more points three times this year. Ferland has six goals and four assists to his name and has notched a point in seven games.
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 games have gone under the total, while three have gone over and none have pushed. The Islanders are 3-3 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Isles have recorded a goal on 23.1 percent of their power play chances this year after successfully converting on 23.2 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (when the team ranked seventh in the league in that category). The team’s gone from successfully defending 73.2 percent of opponent power plays (ranked 31st overall last season) to 74.1 percent this year.
New York’s players have been penalized 4.4 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed 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 has had to stave off opponent power plays for a taxing 12.6 minutes per matchup this season.
Robin Lehner (.929 save percentage and 2.39 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for New York. Lehner is averaging 30.7 saves per game and owns a 3-3-1 record.
For the visiting Islanders, the offense will run through Mathew Barzal (one goal, nine assists) and Josh Bailey (two goals, seven assists).
New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes Betting Predictions
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Notes
Betting Trends
After going 3-3 in games decided by a shootout last year, the Hurricanes are off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. New York was 3-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The total has gone under in four of Carolina’s last five outings.
New York has managed 27.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Carolina is averaging 40.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
New York skaters registered 22.1 hits per game last season, while the Hurricanes logged 19.5 hits per contest.
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