On Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes begin a back-to-back set during the Easter holidays, starting with the New York Islanders at home, and traveling to face the Ottawa Senators less than 24 hours later.
The game is scheduled for 7:00 pm EDT.
The Hurricanes' last game was one of their most impressive games of the season, as they tied the franchise record for fewest shots allowed (10) in a game. They won 5–1 over the Columbus Blue Jackets and clinched their spot in the playoffs.
The game also included a shorthanded goal from Alexander Nikishin, becoming the first rookie defenseman in franchise history to do so, tying Jamie McBain for the most points by a rookie defenseman in Hurricanes history, and tying the team for the most shorthanded goals this season with the Calgary Flames. You can read all about the game here!
On Friday, the Hurricanes did not practice, and thus, there is little time left for the projected lineup. However, now that the Hurricanes have clinched a postseason berth, there is a strong possibility that a few different guys will log ice time while the more productive players get rest over the next seven games.
Meanwhile, the Islanders continue to fight for their spot in the playoffs after missing out last season. They will head into Raleigh with a loss after their Metropolitan Division rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, defeated them 4-1 on Friday. While they are in third place in the Metro Division, they are only one point ahead of the Blue Jackets, who are not even in the wild-card position.
in the crease
For the Hurricanes, they will likely start Brandon Bussey in net. After some decline in numbers and performance, he came up with the catch in his last start – keeping the Hurricanes in the game in a loss against the Blue Jackets. His save percentage this season is .895, with a goals-against average of 2.44, en route to a 28-6-1 record.
As for the Islanders, they are expected to start David Rittich, as Ilya Sorokin did on Friday against the Flyers. This season, Rittich has a save percentage of .894 with a goals against average of 2.78 with a 14-9-3 record.
Expected Carolina Hurricane Lines
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis
Taylor Hall - Logan Stankoven - Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers - Jordan Staal - Jordan Martinook
William Carrier - Mark Jankowski - Eric Robinson
protect
Jacob Slavin - Jalen Chatfield
K'Andre Miller - Shawn Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere - Alexander Nikishin
goaltender
Brandon Bussey/Frederick Anderson
Expected New York Islanders Lines
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Emil Heinemann
Callum Ritchie - Brayden Schenn - Mathew Barzal
Ondrej Palat - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Simon Holmström
Kyle McLean - Casey Cizikas - Mark Gatcomb
protect
Matthew Schaefer - Ryan Pullock
Adam Pelech - Carson Sauci
Scott Mayfield - Adam Boquist
goaltender
David Rittich / Ilya Sorokin
special teams
Carolina Hurricanes power play: 24.8% (4th, up one spot from last game)
Carolina Hurricanes Penalty Kill: 80.8% (12th, up one spot from last game)
New York Islanders Power Play: 17.0% (30th)
New York Islanders Penalty Kill: 81.0% (10th)
storm game notes
In the Hurricanes' last game, they clinched their eighth consecutive playoff berth. Of all the teams in the league, only the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs have longer active playoff appearance streaks (though the Leafs will finish at nine, as they were eliminated from contention by the San Jose Sharks on Thursday).
After Saturday, the Hurricanes will play only one more game at Lenovo Center this regular season, on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins, the Hurricanes' annual Fan Appreciation Night.
how to see
TV: FanDuel Sports Network South
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 99.9 The Fan
