Carolina Hurricanes - New York Islanders predictions and free betting tips [30/04/2024]

The New York Islanders are set to host the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference's first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

New York Islanders

The New York Islanders extended their playoff hopes by defeating the Hurricanes 3:2 in double overtime in the fourth match of the series. Mathew Barzal emerged as the protagonist of this clash, scoring two goals, including the overtime winner, after deflecting Robert Bortuzzo's shot. Semyon Varlamov played a crucial role, blocking 42 of 44 shots, which kept his team's chances of continuing the series alive. Varlamov's average score for the series is 2.08 goals against, and his save percentage stands at 93.

Barzal reiterated that, despite the odds, the team maintains belief and passion, which allows them to prevail in crucial moments. Net-minder Varlamov also received high praise from coach Patrick Roy for his instrumental role in affirming the team's confidence on the ice, especially with such a convincing performance in goal. Anders Lee also contributed to the team's playoff success, scoring 1 goal and contributing 3 assists. On the flip side, the Islanders' offense was ranked 22nd and the defense 19th during the regular season. The Islanders needed to step up their offense during the playoffs, especially after struggling to create opportunities in the early periods of the games.

As per the latest updates, the coach has yet to decide on who will replace the injured Matt Martin in the lineup, although Simon Holmstrom was seen at the left wing in practice alongside Kyle Clutterbuck and Cal MacLean. Russian forward Ruslan Iskhakov has also emerged during the playoffs, offering additional options for the lineup.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes are a win away from advancing to the next round of the playoffs, despite the series proving to be both tense and unpredictable. The Hurricanes hold a 3-1 series lead, even though the most recent Saturday game ended in a double-overtime defeat. Goalie Frederik Anderson showcased high performance by deflecting 29 of the 31 shots in one of the previous games, reaffirming his essential role in the team. In the current season, Anderson boasts a 1.84 goals-against average (GAA) and a 93.2 save percentage. Yaroslav Askarov has yet to play in this series. In the attack, Sebastian Aho leads with 89 points, including 36 goals and 53 assists, while Seth Jarvis has added 67 points with 33 goals and 34 assists in his tally. In the last game, Seth Jarvis scored his second playoff goal, underlining his significance to the team's offensive capacity.

Rod Brind'Amour, the Hurricanes' coach, has been experimenting with the lines to bolster his team's performance. The top line featuring Aho, Jake Guentzel, and Andrei Svechnikov remains unchanged, while other players are rotated to find the best combinations.  In the playoffs, the Hurricanes rank 6th in goals scored per game at 3.25 and 3rd in goals conceded, with an average of 2.25 per game. Their power play effectiveness is 28.6%, putting them in 6th place, and their penalty kill success rate is 71.4%, resulting in the 10th position in the league. Ahead of the forthcoming home game, the Hurricanes aim to utilise their home ice to wrap up the series with a win, relying on the robust performances from their key players and goalies.

Prediction for the New York Islanders - Carolina Hurricanes match

In this match, I'll opt for a bet on the total goals over 5. The Carolina Hurricanes appear as the favourites. The Islanders will need to go on the offense to sustain their season survival chances. Both teams have approximately equal power play efficiency.