Phil Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 (1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) New York Islanders Mon., April 17: Islanders at Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2 Wed., April 19: Islanders at Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS22 Fri., April 21: Hurricanes at Islanders, 7 p.m. ET, TBS, SN1, TVAS Sun., April 23: Hurricanes at Islanders, 1 p.m. ET, TNT, SN360, TVAS Tue., April 25: Islanders at Hurricanes, TBA Fri., April 28: Hurricanes at Islanders, TBA Sun., April 30: Islanders at Hurricanes, TBA REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Hurricanes: 52-21-9, 113 points Islanders: 42-31-9, 93 points SEASON SERIES: CAR 3-1-0; NYI 1-3-0 GAME BREAKERS: Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho led Carolina in goals for the sixth straight season (36) and was second in points with 67 (Martin Necas, 71) in 75 games. Aho, a forward, has 46 points (18 goals, 28 assists) in 48 career playoff games. With forward Andrei Svechnikov (23 goals) out after having season-ending knee surgery, there will be even more focus on Aho. Islanders: Mathew Barzal's return from a lower-body injury that sidelined the forward since Feb. 18 will be a huge boost for New York. Although the Islanders went 14-7-2 in their final 23 regular-season games without Barzal, he is their most dynamic offensive player. He still finished second for New York in points with 51 (14 goals, 37 assists) in 58 games (Brock Nelson led with 75). GOALTENDING: Hurricanes: It seems likely that Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta each will play in this series, and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov is a recall away with Chicago in the American Hockey League if needed. During the regular season, Andersen was 21-11-1 with a 2.48 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and one shutout. Raanta was 19-3-3 with a 2.23 GAA, .910 save percentage and four shutouts. Kochetkov was 12-7-5 with a 2.44 GAA, .909 save percentage and four shutouts. Islanders: Ilya Sorokin enters the playoffs as a No. 1 goalie for the first time after he was 31-22-7 with a 2.34 GAA, .924 save percentage and a League-leading six shutouts during the regular season. Among goalies to start at least 41 games, only Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins had a better GAA (1.89) and save percentage (.938). Backup Semyon Varlamov, who was New York's No. 1 goalie the last time it reached the playoffs in 2021, was 11-9-2 with a 2.70 GAA, .913 save percentage and two shutouts this season. X FACTORS: Hurricanes: Burns fit in seamlessly in his first season with Carolina after being acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks in the offseason. The defenseman was third on the Hurricanes with 61 points (18 goals, 43 assists) and averaged a team-high 23:13 in ice time in 82 regular-season games. The 38-year-old veteran of 94 NHL playoff games will bring experience and an offensive spark from the defense, which Carolina lacked when it lost to the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Second Round last season. Islanders: Horvat could benefit most from Barzal's return and recapture the lethal goal-scoring touch New York coveted when it acquired the center in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 30. Horvat scored seven goals in 30 games with the Islanders after scoring 31 in 49 games with the Canucks, but he had three goals and appeared to have good chemistry with Barzal in their seven games together before he was injured. WILL WIN IF: Hurricanes: They get enough goals from their bottom-six forwards to help out their top six, their goalies stay healthy and they can get some production on the power play. Carolina always generates scoring chances 5-on-5 with its forecheck but will need to convert enough of them against Sorokin. Islanders: Sorokin is at the top of his game, Barzal's return sparks the offense, particularly the power play, and their defense can withstand the Hurricanes' relentless offensive-zone pressure. Defenseman Alexander Romanov returning at some point from his upper-body injury (he will miss at least Game 1) would help too. MORE: https://www.nhl.com/news/2023-nhl-playoffs-carolina-vs-new-york-islanders-1st-round-preview/c-343558862?tid=343453478 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted April 17, 2023 Author Share Posted April 17, 2023 Ain't nobody watching a second of this series lol. This is gonna have fewer replies than late night west coast series, I bet. Probably Canes in 7, but only thing I'm rooting for is both teams kicking the living shit out of one another. Whoever comes out should look like they just survived a round with prime Mike Tyson. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 lol You're not wrong. With Svech out, it makes Carolina even less fun to watch. This is going to be some boring hockey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siddious Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 I hope this is the first ever instance of both teams losing in a series. I’ll let some of you cap and analytics nerds figure out the details of how that works but you know 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm7302 Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 Sorokin will steal this series for the Isles. That's my upset for the east. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted April 17, 2023 Author Share Posted April 17, 2023 Team who can't score versus team who can't score. Should be a real barn burner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sod16 Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 I'm calling on the Hockey Gods to rectify the Islanders not only being gifted a playoff spot but also the opponent that has been playing the worst over the past month of any in the Eastern bracket. I have been good and honest Hockey Gods, and I should not be subjected to anything other than a quick Islanders exit. [Insert Lord's Prayer]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 10 hours ago, Phil said: Ain't nobody watching a second of this series lol. This is gonna have fewer replies than late night west coast series, I bet. Probably Canes in 7, but only thing I'm rooting for is both teams kicking the living shit out of one another. Whoever comes out should look like they just survived a round with prime Mike Tyson. Watching as prep for our second round opponent and rooting for 7 games of multiple overtimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY Chief Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Gotta watch the potential competition but assholes mcdonagh and Ferraro are still just as annoying to listen to. Then again the sticks have AJ choking on her words…. Many don’t like Sam and Joe but they’re still better than most Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 I tried. I really did. Got about 4 shits in before I was bored AF 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siddious Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 7 minutes ago, Keirik said: I tried. I really did. Got about 4 shits in before I was bored AF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 38 minutes ago, Keirik said: I tried. I really did. Got about 4 shits in before I was bored AF Picture overtime. By our collective will we can make it happen. Not like the Canes are built to score eight goals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Heaven Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Such a sloppy game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 1 hour ago, siddious said: I feel like this can count for this or that one time I had unprotected intercourse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Game one gives me hope that it will be a long series Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 2 anemic offensive teams.....it was like watching a snowball fight between 2 guys after rotator cuff surgery!! LOL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY Chief Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 14 minutes ago, Ozzy said: 2 anemic offensive teams.....it was like watching a snowball fight between 2 guys after rotator cuff surgery!! LOL Or Curling…or worse basketball 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sod16 Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 It looked like a continuation of the last time we saw the Islanders in the playoffs, a 1-0 loss in Game 7 to Tampa. Sorokin holds them in, but they don't have sufficient offense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Carolina losing Svechnikov is huge. Fortunately for them, they’re playing against a team who’s offense is even worse than theirs. Even with Sorokin standing on his head, the Isles need some help to score on the PP and I just don’t see it. Carolina will probably score enough goals and once they’re up, they clamp down. And for a horrendous attack like the Islanders have where they have enough issues generating offense, just not a good combo. Canes in 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 The second period was pretty entertaining, Sorokin put on a show. Third period was trash, but that's expected. One goal game between a team that can't score and a team that doesn't give up 3P goals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Sorokin is one of the best in the league and really the only hope they have of winning this series. What we saw last night will probably be the norm. A lot of 2-1, 3-2 scores, marginally entertaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Isles score on a beautiful own goal from deep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Fast with the OT GWG in this one, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Still love Quickie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Heaven Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 NYI got hosed…..and I love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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