The Carolina Hurricanes (28-9-8) travel to meet the New York Islanders (23-19-5) Saturday at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Hurricanes vs. Islanders odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Hurricanes racked up a 5-2 win against the Minnesota Wild Thursday, and Carolina has snapped back on track after a bit of a skid to start the new year. The Canes are 3-0-1 across the past 4 outings, outscoring the opposition 16-9. The Over is 8-1 across the past 9 games overall.
The big news out of Raleigh heading into the weekend was the injury to Max Pacioretty. He just returned from a torn Achilles’ 2 weeks ago, and an MRI Friday confirmed he suffered another torn right Achilles’, and he is back to the injured reserve list.
The Islanders are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at Buffalo Thursday night, and they’ve failed to pick up a win in the previous 3 outings (0-1-2). The Isles are also in the midst of a 1-4-3 slide across the past 8 games, with the Under going 7-1 during the stretch.
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Hurricanes at Islanders odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Islanders +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes -1.5 (+145) | Islanders +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Hurricanes at Islanders projected goalies
Frederik Andersen (8-3-0, 2.43 GAA, .907 SV%) vs. Ilya Sorokin (15-14-4, 2.32 GAA, .926 SV%, 3 SO)
Andersen has been on fire since returning from a 2-month absence due to a lower-body injury. He is 3-0-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .944 SV% in his 3 starts since his return, including a 29-save performance in a 5-2 win over the Wild Thursday.
Sorokin was on the short end of the 3-2 OT loss in Buffalo Thursday, but he made 42 saves. Offensive support has been a problem for Sorokin, as he is 2-3-3 with a 2.48 GAA and .924 SV% in 8 January starts. He has received just 11 goals of support across the past 6 outings.
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Hurricanes at Islanders picks and predictions
Prediction
Hurricanes 4, Islanders 2
Moneyline
The HURRICANES (-160) is a solid moderate favorite on the road against the Islanders.
While Carolina lost Pacioretty to injury, they were doing just fine without him before his early January return. In addition, the road team has won 4 in a row in this series, with the Hurricanes winning 11 of the past 13 meetings overall. Carolina is also 22-7 in past 29 trips to Long Island.
The HURRICANES -1.5 (+145) are worth playing lightly, as it has cashed in 2 of the past 4 games, including 2 of the past 3 starts by Andersen.
And the Islanders +1.5 (-190) have cashed the puck line as an underdog in just 3 of the past 7 games.
OVER 5.5 (+100) is the lean, but go lightly. Play this at a half-unit wager only.
It’s all about the Over lately for Carolina, cashing in 8 of the past 9 games overall, and 5-0 in the past 5 road games. The Over is 7-1 in the past 8 games inside the Metropolitan Division.
And while the Under is 7-1 in the past 8 for the Isles, the Over is 8-1 in the past 9 games against teams with a winning percentage over .600.
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