UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT
TV: ESPN+, FDSNSO, MSGSN
This Metropolitan Division matchup pits the Eastern Conference’s top seed and Presidents’ Trophy favorite against an Islanders team that has been eliminated from playoff contention and is playing spoiler in the final week. Carolina enters with 111 points and a +55 goal differential (league-best offense and elite structure), while New York sits at 91 points with a -7 differential and has little left to play for beyond pride and draft positioning.
Team Records & Recent Form
Hurricanes (52-22-7, 1st Metropolitan / 1st East): Carolina has been the NHL’s most consistent team all season, posting a 23-12-5 road record and ranking top-5 in both goals scored (3.62 GPG) and goals against (2.95). They are 7-2-1 in their last 10, with recent results including a regulation win over Buffalo, a shootout victory vs. Florida, and a tight loss to Philadelphia. Even with key absences, their depth and system play have kept them rolling as they tune up for the postseason.
Islanders (43-33-5, 6th Metropolitan / eliminated): New York has hovered around .500 down the stretch, going roughly 4-5-1 in their last 10 and losing their last two contests. They are 22-16-2 at home but rank middle-of-the-pack offensively (2.89 GPG) while allowing 3.05. With nothing on the line, the Islanders have shown occasional fight at UBS Arena but lack the consistency to challenge elite teams like Carolina.
Injury Report
Carolina Hurricanes
Sebastian Aho (C): Undisclosed – Day-to-day / OUT for this game.
Andrei Svechnikov (LW): Undisclosed – OUT.
Jordan Staal (C): Undisclosed – Day-to-day / OUT.
Seth Jarvis (C): Undisclosed – OUT.
Jaccob Slavin (D): Undisclosed – OUT.
Shayne Gostisbehere (D): Undisclosed – Day-to-day / OUT.
Pyotr Kochetkov (G): Lower-body (hip surgery) – IR but has resumed practicing and played AHL conditioning games recently; status for tonight TBD (likely backup or out).
Carolina is missing a significant chunk of its top-six forward group and key blue-line pieces, forcing heavy reliance on depth calls and younger players. Goaltending falls to Frederik Andersen or a recalled option.
New York Islanders
Semyon Varlamov (G): Knee – Out for the season.
Kyle Palmieri (F): Knee – Out for the season.
Alexander Romanov (D): Shoulder – OUT.
Maxim Shabanov (F): Upper-body – Day-to-day.
New York’s goaltending defaults to Ilya Sorokin (or backup), who has been solid but faces a heavy workload against Carolina’s attack. The Islanders are thin up front and on the blue line.
Key
Player Matchups to Watch
Carolina’s depleted top lines (depth forwards + remaining stars like Ehlers or Guentzel if healthy) vs. Islanders’ shutdown pair and Sorokin: With multiple forwards out, Carolina’s system and forecheck will test New York’s structure. Expect heavy minutes for secondary scorers.
Islanders’ scoring threats (Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal) vs. Carolina’s secondary defense: New York may generate rush chances against a thinned Hurricanes blue line, but Carolina’s penalty kill (top-10) should neutralize any power-play opportunities.
Goaltending: Andersen (or Carolina’s option) has been reliable; Sorokin faces one of the league’s best offenses even in a depleted state.
Special teams: Carolina’s power play ranks among the league’s better units; Islanders’ special teams have been average at best late in the year.
Series History
Carolina has dominated the 2025-26 season series, winning both prior meetings (exact scores not detailed in final reports but 2-0 head-to-head). The Hurricanes have owned recent head-to-head play against the Islanders, especially when healthy. All-time the rivalry is competitive, but current standings and form heavily favor the visitors.
Betting Trends
Hurricanes are strong on the road even with injuries and perform well when resting key pieces late in the season.
Islanders have gone Under in several recent home games and are 0-2 vs. Carolina this year.
Totals trend Under when Carolina manages games tightly; New York struggles to score against top defenses.
Game Odds
Carolina Hurricanes 6.5
New York Islanders – 120
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, April 13, 2026
