Posted at 2:30 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle  +202 BET365  +205 Sportsinteraction   +200 888Sport  +205

N.Y. Islanders +205 over Carolina

7:37 PM EST. OT included. Freddie Andersen finally looked like the all-world goaltender the Hurricanes had hoped for when they signed him in the summer of 2021 in Game 1, as he stole the show with a 33-save performance. The Hurricanes would go on to win the opener, 3-1, but they did not look the part of a Stanley Cup favorite, as the Islanders beat them at their own game, dominating the puck-possession numbers and generating more scoring chances, but failing to put up the offense necessary to win that game. Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour made a worthwhile observation in the aftermath of his team’s victory, saying, "We weren't great, that's for sure. New York is a perfect example of a team that's been playing playoff hockey for a month against a team that hasn't.”

To that end, the Islanders have been in “playoff mode” for weeks as they fought tooth and nail to finish third in the Metropolitan, and they were one of the hottest teams down the stretch, picking up points in nine straight games, going 8-0-1 to close out the year. The Islanders are that team that got “hot at the right time,” and although they did not get the result they wanted, they did not look out of place versus the mighty Hurricanes.

It is impossible to predict the outcome of these games, and with the results in hockey being more luck-driven than the other four majors, the Islanders could be the better team on the ice tonight again and lose this game. That’s frustrating, no doubt, but at the inflated price the Isles are being offered up at today, there is tremendous value to be had on them. Even if the Isles are not the better team, there is a reason the ‘Canes are perennial contenders that have not made it over the hump in their current form, and that is because of weak and inconsistent goaltending. In short, Andersen is just as capable of a gem as he is a stinker, and we just witnessed a gem. The Islanders are playing good hockey right now and they can absolutely win this game. Overlay.

Sherwood

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