NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Islanders vs. Hurricanes Game 5 (Tuesday, April 25)

Islanders vs. Hurricanes Game 5 Odds

The Carolina Hurricanes host the New York Islanders in Game 5 of this NHL Eastern Conference series on Tuesday night.

Carolina has won 12 of the last 15 meetings between these two clubs as it has dominated this matchup over the past couple of seasons. Will the Canes close out this opening series at PNC Arena on Tuesday evening, or can New York keep its season alive?

Here’s a look at the odds, as well as my Islanders vs. Hurricanes Game 5 betting pick.

New York Islanders

Coming off Sunday’s 5-2 home loss to the Hurricanes, the Islanders now hit the road in a potential elimination spot against a far superior team. Once again, New York’s last hope resides in Vezina Trophy candidate Ilya Sorokin to it them out.

In 62 appearances in the crease this season, Sorokin went 31-22-7 with a .924 save percentage (SV%) and 2.34 goals against average (GAA). His underlying metrics were just as dominant, ranking second among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5-on-5.

With that said, there is only so much he can do with the product in front of him against the mighty Canes. Through the first four games, Sorokin is 1-3 with a .910 SV% and 2.96 GAA.

This decrease in production is not due to his performance, but rather the continued below-average play of the team in front of him. At 5-on-5 this season, the Islanders ranked 15th in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and 18th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).

Carolina Hurricanes

While New York was an average team — outside of Sorokin — in the regular season, the Canes were anything but. At 5-on-5 this season, Carolina ranked fourth in the league in xGF/60 and first in xGA/60.

The Canes especially found their rhythm following the Christmas break, ranking first in each of those key metrics in the second half of the season. Surprisingly to some, Antti Raanta got the nod between the pipes in Game 1.

However, his performance in that game and each subsequent outing has likely secured his starting spot during this playoff push moving forward. Through four starts this postseason, Raanta is 3-1 with a .915 SV% and 2.46 GAA.

His underlying metrics are also solid, ranking right around the middle of the pack among goaltenders this postseason in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5.

Islanders vs. Hurricanes Pick

Sunday’s 5-2 loss likely put the nail in the coffin for the Islanders, who now have to travel to arguably the toughest playoff venue in the NHL at PNC Arena in an elimination spot. In Sunday’s contest, Carolina practically lived on the doorstep of Sorokin’s crease.

Game 4 was essentially a microcosm of all that has gone wrong for the Islanders this season, despite making the playoffs. They are a defensively leaky team that is bailed out by one of the best goaltenders in the world while they struggle to register high-danger scoring chances.

Simply put, the Canes are the far superior team, and there is no better place to end this series than in front of the Caniacs at PNC Arena.