With one game left before Christmas, the New York Islanders (15-8-9) and Carolina Hurricanes (17-12-4) "deck the halls with boughs of hockey" in the Tar Heel State.
With one game left before Christmas, the New York Islanders (15-8-9) and Carolina Hurricanes (17-12-4) "deck the halls with boughs of hockey" in the Tar Heel State.
Puck drop from PNC Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The Islanders earned three points on a back-to-back earlier this week. On Wednesday, the second game proved to be their kryptonite against the Washington Capitals. Washington controlled the play for the first 40 minutes, getting goals from Hendrix Lapierre and Joel Edmundson. However, Semyon Varlamov kept New York in the game, allowing them to get even twice on goals from Hudson Fasching and Anders Lee.
Neither team could solve the stalemate in the final eight minutes, forcing the game to overtime. In the extra session, Noah Dobson took a tripping penalty to set the stage for Washington's power play and Dylan Strome to score the game-winner. The Islanders are 0-2-3 on the second game of back-to-backs this season.
Morning Skate Updates
The Islanders did not hold a morning skate but hinted at likely lineup decisions at Friday's practice.
Ilya Sorokin was the first goalie off for the Islanders, as he'll make his 21st start of the season tonight (9-4-7, 3.04 GAA, .914 SV%).
Sorokin is 2-4-1 in seven regular-season games against the Hurricanes, boasting a 3.03 GAA and .909 SV%, surrendering four goals on 46 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss on Nov. 4.
Julien Gauthier suffered an eye injury that forced him out of the lineup on Wednesday.
The forward is available tonight but served as an extra at practice.
Jordan Martinook missed practice for the Hurricanes Friday due to maintenance.
Pyotr Kochetkov was in the starter's crease for Carolina. He will make his 15th start and 17th appearance of the season tonight (7-6-3, .899 SV%, 2.53 GAA).
The Russian netminder has assumed a larger role with Antti Raanta waived and loaned to the AHL's Chicago Wolves, as tonight marks his sixth straight start. He is 2-0-1 in three games against the Islanders, owning a 2.43 GAA and .850 SV%, losing his last start with five goals on 16 shots.
New York Islanders Lines (Projected)
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Julien Gauthier
Hudson Fasching - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Alex Romanov - Noah Dobson
Samuel Bolduc - Robert Bortuzzo
Mike Reilly - Sebastian Aho
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
Carolina Hurricanes Lines (Projected)
Teuvo Teravainen - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook - Jordan Staal - Jesper Fast
Michael Bunting - Jack Drury - Stefan Noesen
Jaccob Slavin - Brent Burns
Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce
Dmitry Orlov - Jalen Chatfield
Pyotr Kochetkov
Yaniv Perets
Islanders Notes
The Islanders are 1-0-1 against the Hurricanes this season, winning their last matchup 5-4 in overtime on Nov. 30. New York was outshot 43-16 but made their few chances count. Goals from Bo Horvat, Simon Holmstrom shorthanded, Pierre Engvall, and Kyle Palmieri helped the Islanders weather the storm, but only temporarily. Carolina had two leads in the affair and came from behind twice, including their Sebastian Aho tying the game with two seconds left. In the overtime, Mathew Barzal finished a Dobson rush, capping off the victory.
With his overtime winner in the last meeting, Barzal has six points against the Hurricanes in two games. Barzal boasts two goals and four assists, including a four-point effort on Nov. 30. Dobson also had a strong showing in their last meeting, earning a trio of assists. The Islanders' blueliner has a goal and three helpers between the two matchups.
Holmstrom scored two of his five shorthanded goals this season against Carolina. The Islanders' winger has a three-game goal streak against the Hurricanes.
Despite not scoring in his previous three matchups with the Hurricanes, Brock Nelson is the Islanders' top scorer. The all-star center has 13 goals and 24 assists against Carolina to lead the team; Lee has the most assists with 14.
Hurricanes Notes
Carolina enters tonight's game off a 2-1 shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sidney Crosby opened the scoring in the first period, but Teuvo Teravainen had the answer in the second. No goals came in the final 25:08 of regulation, setting the stage for overtime. After a scoreless extra session, Crosby scored the lone shootout tally, finishing a 2-1 Pittsburgh win.
Dmitry Orlov has a three-game point streak against the Islanders entering tonight. The defenseman has two goals and two assists in that span, with one of each this season. Jalen Chatfield also scored in both meetings between the two teams.
Jordan Staal leads Carolina in every offensive category against the Islanders. The Hurricanes captain has 16 goals and 33 assists, good for 49 points. However, Carolina's Aho has developed as an Islander-killer. The forward has seven goals and 10 assists, 17 points, in 24 career games against New York, including a five-game point streak with five red lights and two helpers.
Betting Corner
In this divisional tilt, the Hurricanes come as the favorite. The home team sits at -175 on the moneyline, while the Islanders enter at +145. The over/under starts at six goals, with the over slightly favored at -115 to the under's -105.
All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook.
How to Watch:
Tonight's game will air on MSGSN2. On the radio, the contest will be available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio and 1050 AM ESPN.
Matthew Page contributed to this report.