Hurricanes vs Islanders Prediction NHL Experts Picks 4/2

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Islanders will take on the Carolina Hurricanes in a highly anticipated matchup on April 2, 2023, at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. Both teams are playing well this season and are expected to put up a good fight. In this article, we'll take a closer look at both teams, compare their statistics, and explain why the under 5.5 goals is the best bet for this game.

Team comparison

The New York Islanders currently have a record of 39-29-9, with a road record of 17-16-6. They are fourth in the Metropolitan Division standings, with 87 points. The Carolina Hurricanes, on the other hand, have a record of 48-18-9, with a home record of 25-10-3. They are first in the Metropolitan Division standings, with 105 points.

Goaltender comparison

When it comes to goaltenders, the Islanders have two solid options in Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov. Sorokin has a record of 28-19-7, with a 2.36 goals against average (GAA) and a .924 save percentage (SV%). Varlamov has a record of 11-9-2, with a 2.71 GAA and a .913 SV%.

The Hurricanes, on the other hand, have two strong goaltenders in Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta. Andersen has a record of 19-9-1, with a 2.47 GAA and a .903 SV%. Raanta has a record of 16-2-3, with a 2.32 GAA and a .907 SV%.

Injury report

The Islanders will be without three key players in Oliver Wahlstrom, Sebastian Aho, and Mathew Barzal. The Hurricanes will be without Teuvo Teravainen. It's important to note that the absence of key players could have an impact on the total number of goals scored in the game.

Statistics comparison

The Islanders have a slightly lower average number of goals for (GF) per game than the Hurricanes, with 2.96 GF per game compared to the Hurricanes' 3.23 GF per game. The Islanders also have a slightly higher average number of goals against (GA) per game than the Hurricanes, with 2.66 GA per game compared to the Hurricanes' 2.58 GA per game.

Why under 5.5 goals is the best bet

Given the statistics and the absence of key players, we believe that the under 5.5 goals is the best bet for this game. Both teams have solid goaltenders, and with the absence of key players, it may be more difficult for either team to generate offense. Additionally, the Islanders and Hurricanes have a history of low-scoring games, with their previous three matchups totaling 13 goals combined.

Conclusion

The Islanders and Hurricanes are both strong teams this season, and this game is expected to be a close one. However, with the absence of key players and the history of low-scoring games between these two teams, we believe that the under 5.5 goals is the best bet for this game. As always, it's important to do your own research and make informed decisions when placing bets.