In professional sports, you are really only as good as your last game or your last season. Putting together a championship year is great, but if it’s followed up by a dire season where you miss the playoffs, the memories of the championship are going to quickly fade into the past. Countless teams spend their time trying to recapture the glory years instead of simply focusing on the present. It’s tough to think about the now, though when all you hear about is how good the team used to be. That is one of the major problems for the Islanders, a team that has fallen hard since their 4 straight Stanley Cup wins in the 80’s.

While the Carolina Hurricanes do not have that sort of history, they are in a similar position this year after an improbable playoff run last season. The bar has been set much higher this year, but they seem to be embracing that in the early going. The New York Islanders will be om the road to face the Hurricanes on Friday night. Carolina is favored by 1 ½, with the O/U set at 6 for this one.

Islanders vs Hurricanes NHL Spread, Game Info & Prediction

• When: Friday, October 11 at 7:30 PM EST
• Where: PNC Arena, Charlotte
• TV: ESPN+
• Radio: SiriusXM
• Live Stream: NHL.tv
• NHL Spread: Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 (Total 6)

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Why bet on the New York Islanders?

The Metropolitan Division is always one of the more competitive divisions in the NHL, but we are perhaps looking at a bit of a shift in power this season. The Capitals and Penguins are off to slower starts this season, while the Hurricanes have stormed out of the gate. The New York Islanders have had a bit of an inconsistent start to the season, although with just 3 games in the books and a 1-2 record, it might still be too early to talk.

The immediate problem for the Islanders appears to be on the offensive side of things, as 7 goals in 4 games is not going to cut it. Making matters worse is that those 3 games came on home ice. That said, going back to last season, the Islanders are 5-2 SU in their last 7 away from home.

Team Stats

• Goals: 2.33
• Shots: 28.67
• PP/PK Percentage: 25.00

• Goals: 2.67
• Shots: 30.33
• PP/PK Percentage: 33.33

Why bet on the Carolina Hurricanes?

The Carolina Hurricanes were one of the pleasant surprises of last season, making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Final, where they lost out to the Boston Bruins. That run piled on the expectations for this season, but if there is pressure on the Hurricanes to perform, it does not look like this team is feeling it.

They have come storming out of the gate, winning their opening 4 games of the season. They are already averaging 4 goals per game and seeing their power play hit at a 33.3% rate. If there is one negative in the early going, it’s that they are surrendering 2.75 GPG. At home, the Hurricanes are 9-2 SU in their last 11. The OVER has hit in 4 of the last 5 games that Carolina started as a favorite.

Team Stats

• Goals: 4.25
• Shots: 37.50
• PP/PK Percentage: 33.33

• Goals: 2.75
• Shots: 33.25
• PP/PK Percentage: 21.05

Ducks vs Blue Jackets 2019 NHL Lines & Game Preview

Islanders vs Hurricanes NHL Betting Trends

• Islanders are 22-15 ATS vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons
• Hurricanes are 213-181 ATS in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996
• Islanders are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games against an opponent in the East conference
• The total has gone UNDER in 15 of NY Islanders’ last 20 games against an opponent in the Metropolitan division
• Carolina are 9-2 SU in their last 11 games at home
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Carolina’s last 5 games when playing as the favorite

Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Islanders vs Hurricanes

While the Hurricanes are winning, they are still surrendering goals, so it might not be a bad idea to go with the OVER in this one. I like Carolina to keep their great streak going with a win in this one.

Score: New York Islanders 3 – Carolina Hurricanes 5