Hurricanes vs Islanders Game 1 Prediction NHL Playoffs 4/17

Kingpin
Apr 17, 2023, 5:49:34 PM

Islanders vs. Hurricanes - NHL Game Preview - April 17, 2023

The Carolina Hurricanes are determined to turn their strong regular-season run into a deep postseason push as they face off against the New York Islanders in the first-round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Despite being a perennial playoff team, the Hurricanes haven't won more than one series in each postseason since reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2019. Meanwhile, the Islanders are back in the postseason after a one-year absence and aiming to make it to the playoff semifinals for the third consecutive year. As the game approaches, NHL picks experts, computer models, and EM predictions are all in a frenzy trying to make the best NHL picks and parlay for the game. Today's experts are putting their best NHL bets forward, and with the Islanders vs. Hurricanes matchup being so close, it's essential to take a close look at NHL picks with spread and analyze NHL predictions for today. The Islanders will welcome back their star center Mathew Barzal, who has missed the last 23 games with a lower-body injury. Barzal, who had 14 goals and 37 assists this season, will take his customary place on the left side on the top power-play unit. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will be looking to forward Martin Necas to carry his breakout year into the playoffs after a career-high of 71 points in the regular season. Both teams are much better on the penalty kill, with Carolina ranked second and New York ranked ninth, making power-play goals hard to come by in the series. The schedule for the series will see Carolina host Game 2 before shifting to New York for Games 3 and 4. If necessary, the teams will return to Carolina for Game 5 and 7, with Game 6 taking place in New York. With everything on the line, the NHL picks and parlays are tough to predict. However, one thing is guaranteed - hockey fans are in for a thrilling ride as the Islanders face off against the Hurricanes.

Islanders: Offensive Analysis

The New York Islanders enter the playoffs as the underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes, ranked second in the league in the regular season. They will need to bring their A-game on offense to compete with the Hurricanes and have a chance at advancing. The Islanders’ offensive production has been inconsistent throughout the season, ranking 21st in the league in goals scored. Mathew Barzal, the team’s star center, missed the final 23 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. While he is set to return for the playoffs, it remains to be seen if he will be in top form. In his absence, the team relied heavily on Jordan Eberle and Anthony Beauvillier, both of whom finished the season with 16 goals each. The Islanders' power play has been a weak spot all season, ranking 30th in the league at just 15.8%. They will need to improve in this area if they hope to compete with the Hurricanes. On the bright side, their penalty kill has been strong, ranking ninth in the NHL. Overall, the Islanders’ offense will need to step up if they hope to pull off an upset against the Hurricanes. They will need to find a way to generate more scoring opportunities and capitalize on the power play. However, with Barzal returning to the lineup, they have a chance to surprise the experts and computer predictions with their offensive output. NHL Picks Experts and NHL Picks Computer have already counted them out, but Islanders’ offensive spark could prove them wrong in this playoff series.

Islanders: Defensive Analysis

The Islanders have always been a team known for their defensive prowess, and this year is no different. They ranked 10th in the league in goals against per game, allowing just 2.58. The key to their success has been their team defense, which is anchored by their stellar goaltending. Ilya Sorokin had a breakout season, going 31-22-7 with six shutouts, a 2.34 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. He finished the season on a high note, going 14-5-2 with a 2.24 GAA in his last 21 starts. The Islanders also have a strong defensive group, led by the likes of Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech. They were both instrumental in the Islanders' playoff success in the past two years, and they will need to continue to be a force in their own end if the Islanders want to advance in this year's playoffs. The Islanders' penalty kill was also impressive this season, ranking ninth in the league at 82.2%. They will need to continue to be a strong defensive team on special teams if they want to shut down the Hurricanes' power play, which ranked 20th in the league. Overall, the Islanders' defensive play will be crucial to their success in this series. If they can continue to play their sound team defense and get strong performances from Sorokin in net, they have a good chance of advancing to the next round. NHL picks computer and NHL picks EM predictions may favor the Hurricanes, but the Islanders have the defensive weapons to shut them down.

Hurricanes: Offensive Analysis

The Carolina Hurricanes have a lot of depth in their offense and have been successful in the regular season, finishing second in the league standings this year. However, they have struggled to convert their strong regular season runs into deep playoff pushes, and will need to improve their offensive output to be successful in the playoffs. While the Hurricanes have several offensive weapons, including breakout star Martin Necas, their power play has been lackluster, ranking 20th in the NHL. This could prove problematic against the New York Islanders, who have a strong penalty kill and rank 9th in the league. Carolina will need to find a way to capitalize on their opportunities on the power play, while also improving their play at even strength. They have the potential to go deep in the playoffs, but their offense will need to perform at a higher level if they hope to achieve success. As for NHL picks, experts and computer predictions have varied opinions on this series. However, some of the best NHL bets today may include picking the Hurricanes with the spread or as part of a parlay. Ultimately, the Hurricanes' offensive success will be a key factor in determining their playoff fate.

Hurricanes: Defensive Analysis

The Carolina Hurricanes have been a dominant force in the NHL playoffs for the past five years with three consecutive division titles. But the challenge for the Hurricanes is to turn their regular-season triumph into a deeper run in the postseason. In their first-round series against the New York Islanders, Carolina's defense will play a vital role in ensuring that their playoff run goes beyond the second round. Carolina's defensive lineup, led by Dougie Hamilton, has been solid throughout the season. In the first round, they will have to face a resurgent Islanders team that has regained their form after missing the playoffs last year. The Islanders' offensive attack will be led by Mathew Barzal, who is returning after missing the last 23 games with a lower-body injury. However, Carolina's defense will have to be on their toes with veteran forward Jordan Martinook and young star Seth Jarvis leading the way. The Hurricanes' goaltending situation remains uncertain with coach Rod Brind'Amour refusing to name a starter. Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta are both capable of stealing a game, but consistency will be key in a seven-game series. The Islanders have a clear advantage in goal with Ilya Sorokin, who had a stellar season with 31 wins, six shutouts, and a .924 save-percentage. Special teams will play a crucial role in this matchup. Carolina has the second-best penalty kill in the league, with New York ranked ninth. The Hurricanes' power play is average, while the Islanders' power play is among the worst in the league. Carolina will have to convert their power-play opportunities to gain an edge in the series. In conclusion, Carolina's defense and special teams will be the key to their success in the playoffs. If they can keep the Islanders' offense at bay and capitalize on their power-play chances, the Hurricanes will be on their way to a deeper postseason run. Experts, computer predictions, and NHL picks all favor the Hurricanes to come out victorious in this series.

Injury Report

Both the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Islanders have had relatively few significant injuries heading into the Stanley Cup playoffs. For the Hurricanes, forward Warren Foegele and defenseman Ethan Bear are both listed as day-to-day but are expected to be available for Game 1. Meanwhile, the Islanders have defenseman Noah Dobson listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but he is also expected to be available for the start of the series. One notable return for the Islanders will be star center Mathew Barzal, who missed the final 23 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. Barzal practiced with the team on Friday and is expected to take his usual spot on the top line and power-play unit for Game 1. Overall, both teams seem to be relatively healthy and ready to compete in what should be a physical and intense playoff series. With few major injuries to report, the focus will be on which players can step up and make an impact on the ice for their respective teams.