The New York Islanders (32-30-10) travel to face off against the Carolina Hurricanes (44-24-4) on Sunday, March 30th. This game will be played at Lenovo Center in Raleigh and televised on ESPN+. The Hurricanes are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Islanders are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Rangers. Puck drop is set for 5:00 ET.

Islanders vs Hurricanes

The New York Islanders Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

The Islanders fell to 32-30-10 after a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. Entering as underdogs on the puck line, the total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the combined score reached 7.

New York’s defense struggled, allowing the Rangers to score first at 16:16 in the first period. The Islanders managed to close the gap to 3-2, but the Rangers pulled away with two more goals.

The Carolina Hurricanes Are Coming Off A Win

With a 4-2 win over the Capitals, the Hurricanes improved to 44-24-4. Carolina covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line.

Carolina took an early lead, but the Capitals responded with two goals in the first period. The Hurricanes then scored three unanswered goals, including an empty-netter, to secure the victory.

New York Offense Breakdown

In their 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders took 37 shots on goal but only managed to score twice. Casey Cizikas netted his first goal of the season, while Brock Nelson added his fifth, with just 8 seconds left in the second period.

New York had 23 giveaways in the game, and none of their goals came on the power play. Pierre Engvall recorded his first assist of the season on Cizikas’ goal, while Simon Holmstrom picked up his fourth assist.

Hurricanes Offense Breakdown

Dmitry Orlov led the Hurricanes’ offense with two goals, bringing his season total to three. Martin Necas, who scored his sixth goal of the season, also added two assists, now with 12 on the year. Andrei Svechnikov closed out the scoring with an empty-netter, his sixth goal of the season.

Carolina fired 45 shots on goal but also had 14 giveaways. They scored once in the first period, twice in the second, and added a final goal with just nine seconds left in the game.

New York Team Defense

On the defensive side, the Islanders allowed the first goal just 3:44 into the first period and gave up two more in the third, leading to a 5-2 loss. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with a save percentage of 89.7%. The Islanders’ defense recorded 12 takeaways and 17 hits.

Carolina Team Defense

Carolina’s defense gave up two late goals in the first period, but they tightened up after that, not allowing another goal for the rest of the game. Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves with a 90.5% save percentage, and the Hurricanes’ defense added 7 takeaways, 10 hits, and 11 blocks.

Islanders vs Hurricanes Trends

• Through their last five road games, New York has an puck line record of just 2-3. However, their overall record was 2-3 while averaging 2 goals per game.
• The Hurricanes are 2-1 puck line in their last three home games and 2-1 straight-up.
• The Hurricanes have played well in their last three games as the betting underdog, going 2-1 straight up and 2-1 against the spread.
• In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Islanders have a straight up record of 2-3 and an puck line mark of 1-4.

Islanders vs Hurricanes Prediction

For those seeking a straight moneyline bet, the Hurricanes are the top choice. Nonetheless, with a payout of -286, you might want to use this bet as a part of a parlay to get better odds.

My recommended pick for the puck line is to take the Islanders to cover. Even if the Hurricanes win straight-up, this one should be close throughout and the Islanders should cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.