Islanders Blow Lead, Lose to Devils 5-4 In Final Minute With a six game point streak snapped, the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/.preview/cn02cfaca01000240c?auth=1701444401:ca510cc82ffb282a6bf4497eb85aa9a27f50d7fd&nonce=1701358000852https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-lane-lambert-dean-evason-john-hynes-jay-woodcroft-bruce-boudreau] (8-7-6) face off with the Carolina Hurricanes (13-8-0) in Raleigh. Puck drop from PNC Arena is scheduled for 7:30, an ESPN+/Hulu exclusive. The Islanders’ third-period problems once again reared their ugly heads on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. After sitting in a tie through the first period, New York outscored New Jersey 3-1 in the middle frame. Mathew Barzal, Cal Clutterbuck, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau got the Islanders up 4-2 after two, but the Devils had an answer. Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier got New Jersey even, and with overtime on the horizon, the Devils finished to comeback with seconds to spare. Curtis Lazar buried a rebound past Ilya Sorokin, giving the Islanders a 5-4 loss. Following the loss, New York is 0-5-3 against teams that made the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which includes their first matchup with Carolina on November 4. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead, a goal in the second and two in the third got the contest to overtime. Sebastian Aho scored the game winner in extra time, giving Carolina the win in a game where they totaled 46 shots on net. MORNING SKATE UPDATES All updates from this morning's skates are provided by Newsday's Andrew Gross [https://twitter.com/AGrossNewsday]. Both the Islanders and Hurricanes skated at PNC Arena this morning. Despite being activated from the IR Tuesday, Matt Martin did not play against the Devils. He, along with Hudson Fasching and Grant Hutton remained on the ice following the skate as they are likely extras tonight. Semyon Varlamov took the starter’s crease this morning, he will make his eighth start of the season tonight (3-3-1, 2.30 GAA, .930 SV%). Andrei Svechnikov missed Carolina’s last game due to illness but returned to practice today. He returned to the ice this morning and will likely return to the lineup tonight. He skated on the team’s bottom line, but head coach Rod Brind’Amour said his location could change, per Hurricanes’ team reporter Walt Ruff. Pyotr Kochetkov left the ice first for Carolina, as he will make the seventh start of the season and ninth appearance overall (3-4-0, 2.65 GAA, .894 SV%). This will be his third straight start. NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINES (PROJECTED): Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Oliver Wahlstrom Julien Gauthier - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck Alex Romanov - Noah Dobson Mike Reilly - Ryan Pulock Samuel Bolduc - Scott Mayfield Semyon Varlamov Ilya Sorokin CAROLINA HURRICANES LINES (PROJECTED) Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis Teuvo Teravainen - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Martin Necas Jordan Martinook - Jordan Staal - Jesper Fast Michael Bunting - Jack Drury - Stefan Noesen Jacob Slavin - Brent Burns Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce Dmitry Orlov - Jalen Chatfield Pytor Kochetkov Antti Raanta ISLANDERS NOTES Bo Horvat got back on the scoresheet in Tuesday’s game, scoring the game’s first goal on the power play. For Horvat, it was his first since November 15 against the Canucks and third on the power play to lead the team. Barzal notched a goal and two assists against the Devils, extending a personal hot streak. He has 10 points in his last eight games, totaling four goals and six assists in that span. The forward boasts 19 points overall to lead the team. Brock Nelson is the Islanders’ leading scorer against Carolina entering tonight. The Islanders’ leader in goals has 13 red lights and 24 points in 34 games against the Hurricanes to lead in both categories. Anders Lee boasts the most assists with 11. Varlamov will make a rare start against the Hurricanes tonight. Since joining the Islanders, he’s started only once against Carolina in 2022, despite solid numbers against them. He is 5-4-4 with a 2.35 GAA and ..925 SV% in 13 career matchups. Hurricanes Notes The Hurricanes, winners of four of their last five games, made it back-to-back victories on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Brendan Lemieux gave Carolina a 2-1 lead in the second period, an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish. Michael Bunting added a goal and assist, and Sebastian Aho tallied two helpers to give the Hurricanes a 4-1 win over a division rival. Bunting’s two-point night gives him five points in his last four games. The Carolina forward has two goals and three assists in that stretch. Seth Jarvis, who also added a goal Tuesday, has four goals and four assists in his last five games. Jordan Staal is Carolina’s leading scorer against the Islanders lifetime. In 73 games, their captain has 15 goals and 32 assists, totaling 47 points. Despite Staal’s lifetime heroics, Carolina’s star center, Sebastian Aho, has quickly developed into an Islander killer. He has 16 points against the Islanders in 23 games and tallied the overtime winner in their first meeting. This season, he’s failed to record a point in only five of his 18 games. Raanta will make his eighth career appearance against the Islanders. He started Carolina’s victory over the Islanders last month and has strong numbers lifetime. In the prior seven games, he is 3-2-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .912 SV% against New York. BETTING CORNER Do you think the Islanders will beat the Hurricanes? Carolina enters as a heavy favorite at home, coming in at -190 on the money line compared to the Islanders at +155. The over/under comes in at 5.5 goals, the over more likely at -125 to the under’s +105. All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook. HOW TO WATCH: Tonight’s game is the first of four ESPN+ and Hulu exclusive broadcasts for the Islanders. New York will make eight appearances across the networks of ESPN this season. On the radio, tonight’s game will air on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio, and 1050 AMbESPN. Matthew Page [https://x.com/matthewpage24?s=21&t=IRIFf8wmlEpx9YxSM0Kyjg] contributed to this report.
