Hurricanes vs Islanders 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Pick for Game 1.

Hurricanes vs Islanders 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Pick for Game 1

Written by on April 26, 2019

If you projected an Eastern Conference semifinal between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders, well, you are lying. No one expected this matchup – especially Carolina. The Islanders are favored on the NHL Betting Lines for Game 1 and the series.

How to Bet Hurricanes vs Islanders 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 1 Info

Season Series

The Islanders won the series 3-1 (despite being outshot 112-59) but lost the last matchup, 4-3 at home way back on Jan. 8. Justin Williams scored at 17:18 of the third as the Canes snapped New York’s six-game winning streak at the time. The 37-year-old forward flipped a backhand past goaltender Thomas Greiss with an assist from Greg McKegg. Jaccob Slavin made it 4-2 for the Hurricanes with a power-play goal at 18:53 before Brock Nelson scored his second of the game for the Islanders at 19:01. Curtis McElhinney made 28 saves for Carolina.

This is the first-ever playoff matchup between the franchises.

Why Bet on Carolina?

After captaining the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup in 2006, Rod Brind’Amour has led the team to the second round in his first season behind the bench.

The Hurricanes assured we wouldn’t have a repeat Stanley Cup champion as they upset the Washington Capitals on the road 4-3 in double overtime in Game 7 on Wednesday night. McGinn became the 12th player in NHL history to score the decisive goal in a Game 7 that required multiple overtimes and first since Pittsburgh’s Chris Kunitz in the 2017 Conference Finals.

Carolina overcame a 3-1 deficit and Brock McGinn scored the winner at 11:05 of the second overtime. Carolina earned its first Stanley Cup Playoff series win since the 2009 Conference Semifinals – a seven-game triumph over Boston. Carolina has overcome a deficit in four of their five all-time Game 7 wins, including each of the last three. The Hurricanes became the sixth franchise in NHL history to record as many come-from-behind Game 7 wins, joining the Maple Leafs (5), Bruins (4), Canadiens (4), Flyers (4) and Oilers (4).

The Hurricanes, who earned the only road win in their first-round series with the Capitals, improved to 5-3 in eight all-time Game 7s – including five straight victories. Their five consecutive Game 7 wins dating to the 2006 Conference Finals are the fourth-longest such run in League history.

Justin Williams registered an assist on the game-winning goal. It was the 15th career point in a Game 7 for the former Los Angeles King, extending his NHL record. Jaccob Slavin registered three assists in the win. Slavin is up to nine assists in seven playoff games. He’s tied with San Jose’s Erik Karlsson for first place in assists so far in the postseason.

Petr Mrazek turned aside 34 of 37 shots. Mrazek finished the first round with a 4-3 record, a 2.54 goals-against-average and a .899 save percentage.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Goals: 2.99
  • Shots: 34.33
  • PP/PK Percentage: 17.28

Defense

  • Goals: 2.73
  • Shots: 28.45
  • PP/PK Percentage: 19.01

Why Bet on NY Islanders?

The Islanders finished second in the Metro Division, while the Hurricanes finished in the first wild card, meaning the Isles will have home-ice advantage. Note that if the series does go seven games, the final two games of the series will be played on back to back nights. That’s unusual in the playoffs.

This team is well-rested, perhaps too much so, as it shockingly completed the four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins way back on April 16. Robin Lehner stopped 32 of 33 shots in the 3-1 clincher. After giving up three goals in Game 1, Lehner only allowed one goal in each of the following three games. The Isles netminder owns a 4-0 record with a 1.47 goals-against-average and a .956 save percentage this postseason.

Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 1 is going to be a close one.

Matt Martin recorded 33 hits in the Islanders’ four-game sweep. Martin average of 8.3 hits per game, is the highest in the playoffs. He thinks the Islanders’ extended break between series will ultimately be a good thing.

“I’ve been part of a few seven-game series and you get through, but you just wonder how you’re going to feel in the next series,” Martin said. “As long as we take care of our bodies and take care of our minds, mostly that rest will be huge down the stretch.”

The Game 4 win over Pittsburgh was costly, though, as top defensemen Johnny Boychuk injured his leg and will miss 3-4 weeks, meaning this entire series and probably the next if the Isles advance. Thomas Hickey has been skating alongside Nick Leddy at practices ahead of the second round. Hickey is poised to play because of the Boychuk injury. Hickey was a healthy scratch for New York’s first-round series.

Winger Cal Clutterbuck (undisclosed) has been back at practice this week, his first time doing so since he suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 4 against Pittsburgh.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Goals: 2.81
  • Shots: 28.91
  • PP/PK Percentage: 14.58

Defense

  • Goals: 2.35
  • Shots: 31.05
  • PP/PK Percentage: 20.00

Hurricanes vs Islanders 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Trends

  • Underdog is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings
  • Road team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings
  • Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in New York
  • Carolina is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Carolina’s last 5 games on the road
  • NY Islanders are 6-0 SU in their last 6 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Islanders’ last 6 games when playing at home against Carolina

Expert Final Score Prediction for Hurricanes vs Islanders

Carolina Hurricanes 2 – NY Islanders 3