This first-round series is a battle between David and Goliath. The Maven Stan Fischler shares reasons for optimism.
You have to wonder why the New York Islanders are even going to show up in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday.
Those who have read Page 41 of The Hockey News Yearbook would consider Game One of the first-round Canes-Isles series a waste of the Islanders' time and travel. It virtually says so at the bottom of that page:
"Carolina Defeats Dallas" for the Stanley Cup!
Hmmm. If that's the case, then it must mean that the Canes will beat our Isles in the first round. Some National Hockey League sages claim it could be a Carolina four-game sweep.
Well, as far as The Maven knows, there's nothing in the Constitutions of Canada, the United States, or even North Carolina that prevents such claims.
But this much is certain; the Isles will lace on their skates, take the ice on Saturday, and -- guess what? -- they will give the Dixie stick handlers their best shot, just as they did a year ago.
Maybe the Islanders will get swept, but guaranteed, they'll show up.
That said, THN author Jared Clinton concludes, "The Hurricanes have created the perfect storm."
So, why in Heaven's name are our Islanders even bothering to jet to the Southland?
Well, for one thing, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman won't have it any other way.
For another, neither will the Islanders' high command, led by Lou Lamoriello and Patrick Roy.
Granted that Canes' coach, Rod Brind'Amour, is pretty strong in goal, but we have a pretty fair goalkeeper as well. So, what if our guy is hitting 36 years; Semyon Varlamov is playing like he's ten years younger.
By the way, 28-year-old Ilya Sorokin is just about hitting his prime. But The Maven's guess is that Roy will start Varly based on Sem's successful playoff history. Let's see how it goes.
Author-Isles historian Zachary Weinstock calls Varly "The second most storied Islander goaltender behind Billy Smith. And to think he was thought to be 'Over the hill' when he got here five years ago."
No, I'm not going to sit here -- or stand, for that matter -- and tell you that the Isles defense can match Brind'Amour's collection of starry blue liners; that dumb, I'm not, especially if injured Noah Dobson is not fit to play.
Quite frankly, friends, our D is a major challenge compared to the enemy. Plus, Brindy has an offensive arsenal that's the envy of everyone but the Rangers.
That said, the Isles are coming in on a hot streak that, remarkably, has lifted them into the postseason. Plus, the underdog role suits them just fine. We've been like that since knocking off the Cup champion Penguins in the 1993 classic.
Want some more hopeful thoughts? Here goes:
1. The once hapless and hopeless power play has shown hopeful signs of improvement.
2. Motivation -- as in "We'll show the doubters" -- is high.
3. The recent Rangers Series: In the last two games against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Blueshirts, the Isles took three out of a possible four points and came within a shootout of making it four-for-four.
4. The Patrick Roy Effect; Patrick is a career winner. Granted this is a new and different role for him but, historically, you gotta like this guy.
5. Potential Unsung Heroes: Kyle MacLean, Pierre (Yeah) Engvall, Mike Reilly.
In addition to projecting that Carolina will win The Cup, The Hockey News Yearbook also picked New Jersey, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh to finish ahead of the Islanders.
Go figure!
As far as The Maven can tell - analytics or not -- that has not happened.