Best Bet
HURRICANES (-135) over Islanders
The Skinny
Get your brooms ready! We are 2 for 2 on our sweep predictions this post season so let’s go for 3. Just as we said a few days ago, Carolina had what it took to snuff out the Islanders without G Peter Mrazek last game, and for good reason, their defense held up and G Curtis McElhinney managed to hold strong and win his first ever career playoff start. He also is the oldest goalie in NHL history to record a playoff win; good story and not too shabby on his part. Islanders fans thought they would catch a break because they were playing the “Back-up” but in reality, the Hurricanes had a goalie tandem all year, Mrazek got the starts early in the playoffs because he was hot near the end of the season, simple as that.
The Islanders have only scored 3 goals so far this series. Their offense just isn’t holding up against the likes of D Jacob Slavin and the rest of the defensive corps Carolina is deploying. There is good reason to believe that the Hurricanes can finish this series off quickly and rest up before they play their biggest challenge yet against either the Bruins or the Jackets. We love Carolina here tonight.