Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders Game 3 Prediction, Odds
After falling behind 2-0 midway through the second, the Islanders got back in the game, scoring three consecutive goals to take their first lead of the series. The Hurricanes took an extra period to pull off the 4-3 win in Game 2, thanks to Jesper Fast’s overtime game-winner.
The odds are as close as ever in Game 3, but the Islanders are a slight favourite to win listed at -123 on the NHL odds and the total is set at 5.5. The puck drops from UBS Arena at 7 P.M. EST.
Hurricanes vs. Islanders NHL Playoff Betting Odds
With a commanding 2-0 series lead, oddsmakers have moved the Hurricanes to -714 to win the series. They are expecting New York to pull out a win before it is all said and done, with the likeliest outcome being over in five games, listed at +229.
Although it was labelled as a defensive battle from the opening puck drop, both teams got some offence rolling in Game 2, hitting the Over after their past two meetings ended at 2-1.
After covering the spread in Games 1 and 2 the Islanders have covered the spread in each of the past three meetings with Carolina. With the odds in their favour tonight, it is the Hurricanes who are the favourite to cover the +1.5 goals at -272 on the spread.
Carolina Hurricanes
37-year-old Paul Stastny got the offence rolling for the Canes in Game 2, scoring his 27th career postseason goal in his 105th game. Carolina’s powerplay connected again for the third time in the first two games, on Stefan Noesen’s second tally of the playoffs. The Hurricanes’ powerplay was struggling heavily in the second half of the season and if they get rolling consistently it would be a huge boost to the team’s offence.
Defenceman Jaccob Slavin scored from a tough angle to send the game to the extra frame before Jesper Fast would score the game-winner.
Carolina will have to finish the rest of the postseason without forward Teuvo Teravainen after taking a slash from the Islanders’ Jean-Gabriel Pageau, resulting in a broken hand that will require surgery. Their forward core has taken a beating this season as Teravainen joins Andrei Svechnikov and Max Pacioretty on the long-term injured reserve.
New York Islanders
The Islanders seemed to have gotten a bit of mojo back after back-to-back goals from Kyle Palmieri and Mathew Barzal to tie the game in the second period, climbing out of a 2-0 hole. Broc Nelson added a goal in the third to give the Islanders their first lead of the series.
Defenceman Sebastian Aho was on the wrong side of the blooper reel in Game 2, firing a backhand shot from his own blueline past his goalie, giving the Hurricanes a freebie. The bad luck continued for the Islanders as they were not given a single powerplay on Wednesday night. They did successfully kill five of the six penalties that they took though.
After a successful regular season, Noah Dobson continues to impress into the postseason. He had a strong performance in Game 1 and put up a pair of assists in Game 2.
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