Game Preview: Islanders Host Hurricanes For First Meeting Since Playoffs

EAST MEADOW, NY -- For the first time since the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the New York Islanders (5-2-2) host the Carolina Hurricanes (6-5-0).

Puck drop at UBS Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Islanders enter tonight’s game off a 3-0 win to the Washington Capitals and have points in four straight (3-0-1). 

Despite getting heavily outshot in the first half of the game, New York made good on their few scoring opportunities. Goals from Ryan Pulock and Simon Holmstrom on the lone shots of the first period gave the Islanders a lead. 

Brock Nelson added on in the second, which proved to be enough for Semyon Varlamov. The Islander goalie finished a 32-save shutout, his second in as many games. Varlamov extended his shutout streak to 137:20 of game time.

The focus now shifts to a rematch from Spring’s postseason. 

The Islanders and Hurricanes met in a tight series in the opening round of the postseason. 

Despite their best efforts, Carolina kept pace and put away the series in six games, winning the finale at UBS Arena.

"After what happened last year in the playoffs and stuff like that, I feel like we've got some unfinished business [...] We just got to be ready to go for that and give them a taste of their own medicine." -- Bo Horvat

"When you get knocked out by a team, it's always salty in your mouth. So it'll be a good challenge. They're a good hockey team." -- Scott Mayfield

"You never forget who knocked you out of the playoffs, certainly. And it's a new season, though. You know, I think they've got five new guys in their lineup tonight that didn't play in that last game, but definitely, you know, you certainly have memories, and we know how they play. They're a very good hockey team, a high-pressure team. We've got to be ready for them." -- Lane Lambert

Ilya Sorokin was the first goalie off at morning skate. He will make his seventh start of the season tonight (3-1-2, 2.99 GAA, .910 SV%).

Adam Pelech, who left in the first period of Thursday’s game with a lower-body injury, will not play tonight as he's considered day-to-day. He did take the ice before the morning skate. 

The Carolina Hurricanes did not hold a morning skate. 

Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal

Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri

Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Hudson Fasching

Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck

Alexander Romanov - Ryan Pulock

Sebastian Aho - Noah Dobson

Samuel Bolduc - Scott Mayfield 

Ilya Sorokin

Semyon Varlamov

Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis

Michael Bunting - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Teuvo Teravainen

Jordan Martinook - Jordan Staal - Jesper Fast

Stefan Noesen - Jack Drury - Martin Necas

Jacob Slavin - Brent Burns

Brady Skjei - Jake Chatfield

Dmitri Orlov - Tony DeAngelo

Frederik Andersen

Antti Raanta

All three members of the Islanders’ second line tallied at least a point on Thursday. Brock Nelson notched a goal and an assist, and Pierre Engvall and Kyle Palmieri each notched a helper. Nelson has goals in two straight games, Engvall has assists in three straight games, and Palmieri has points in four of his last five games.

Nelson’s success extends to his career against the Hurricanes. He boasts 13 goals and 11 assists in 33 games against Carolina.

Ilya Sorokin started 12 games against the Hurricanes in his career, including the playoffs. In those games, Sorokin is 4-8-0 and boasts a 2.76 GAA and .926 SV%.

The Hurricanes enter tonight’s game off a 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers. Chris Kreider and Seth Jarvis traded goals in the first, but Will Cuylle’s third-period goal proved to be the difference.

Carolina has been white-hot against the islanders as of late. Including their six-game postseason victory last season, the Hurricanes are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games against New York, including five victories in six games at UBS Arena.

Jordan Staal has 46 points against the Islanders in 72 career matchups, trailing only the Flyers for points against each team. He holds 15 goals and 31 assists, the most per any opponent.

Do you think the Islanders will beat the Hurricanes? Carolina enters as the favorite in tonight’s contest, sitting at -125 on the money line. The Islanders enter at +105. The over/under comes in at 5.5 goals, with the over at -120 and the under at +100.

All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook.

Tonight’s game can be found on MSGSN. On the radio, tonight’s game can be found on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio, and 1050 AM ESPN. 

Matthew Page contributed to this report.