Game #1 Preview: Hurricanes vs Islanders

Hurricanes hockey is finally upon us! The opening game vs the New York Islanders at PNC Arena. Both teams are looking to win the uber-competitive Metropolitan division this season. This is only game 1 of 82 for both teams, but this matchup is key to get on the right foot and carry momentum into the rest of the 2021-2022 season. 


Previous Meeting

The last matchup between these two was way back on March 7th of the 2020 season. Right before covid-19 changed our lives. The Hurricanes won this game 3-2 in overtime on a controversial goal scored by (at the time) recently acquired Vincent Trocheck. 


Hurricanes Dominance

The Hurricanes have won 10 straight regular-season and postseason games vs the Islanders. The last time they lost to New York was back on November 24th, 2018. Carolina regularly outplays the Islanders as well. The Hurricanes have found the formula to beat the Islanders.


Projected Lines 

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen

Kotkaniemi-Trocheck-Necas

Nino-Staal-Fast

Lorentz-Stepan-Martinook


Slavin-Bear

Skjei-Pesce

Cole-DeAngelo


Andersen

Raanta


Scratches: B. Smith, Jarvis



What the analytics predict

MoneyPuck.com gives Carolina a 58.3% chance of winning tonight. 

Carolina ranked 4th in xGoals% last season across the entire league with 54.01%, while the Islanders ranked 6th in this category with a 53.65%.

Via MoneyPuck.com


This is a high-quality matchup between two good hockey teams. The game could go either way.


Players to watch

Carolina’s DeAngelo is looking to make an offensive impact right away for the Hurricanes. He will be given plenty of opportunities on the Power Play to be a difference-maker.


The Islanders' goaltending has always been their biggest strength since Trotz took over in 2018. Whoever gets the start between Varlamov or Sorokin will be the key for the Islanders to win tonight.


This will be an intense and high-energy matchup to open the hockey season. Both of these teams will want to win to start their march towards the playoffs early.

 

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