Hurricanes Improve to -450 Favorites on NHL Series Price Following Game 2 Win vs Islanders
- Following a 2-1 win in Game 2, Carolina heads home as heavy -450 favorites to advance past the Islanders
- Strong play by Petr Mrazek fueled the Hurricanes’ success, but an injury to the Czech netminder is cause for concern
- Islanders have dominated Carolina at times, but will need stellar play from goalie Robin Lehner to get back into the series
A pair of quick third-period goals earned the Carolina Hurricanes a narrow 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series on Sunday.
Now in possession of a commanding 2-0 series lead as the scene shifts to PNC Arena for Game 3 on Wednesday night, the Hurricanes are heavy favorites to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2009, sporting short -450 odds in the NHL series prices.
Hurricanes vs Islanders Series Odds
| Team | Hurricanes vs Islanders Series Prices |
|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes | -450 |
| New York Islanders | +325 |
*Odds taken on 04/29/19
That’s a massive swing in Carolina’s favor. The Hurricanes were only -170 favorites after winning Game 1.
Hurricanes Claim Series Lead by Narrow Margin
The Hurricanes have outscored the Islanders by the narrowest of margins in the series. The club needed overtime to eke out a 1-0 win in Game 1, and made the best of their limited opportunities in Game 2, scoring a pair of goals just 48 seconds apart to escape with Sunday’s victory as +140 road underdogs.
Carolina’s unlikely playoff run has been fueled by solid goaltending from Petr Mrazek. Signed to a one-year deal by the Hurricanes following a forgettable 2017-18 campaign split between Detroit and Philadelphia, Mrazek has stood tall between the pipes for Carolina, surrendering two or fewer goals on five occasions so far in the postseason.
Mrazek Injury, Shaky Home Record vs Islanders Remain Concerns
However, the Hurricanes were forced to get things done without their starter when Mrazek left Game 2 with an upper body injury.
While the loss of a starting goaltender to injury is typically a massive concern for a team on an unexpected playoff run, veteran Curtis McElhinney allayed the worries of nervous Hurricane fans, turning aside all 17 shots he faced in the win (though he did get some help from the iron).
"Mac has been great all year, so there was no 'oh no, we got to put that guy in'."
–Rod Brind'Amour on the confidence the @NHLCanes had with McElhinney after Mrazek left.
WATCH | #TakeWarning pic.twitter.com/IqXINM8zWp
— FOX Sports Carolinas (@CanesOnFSCR) April 28, 2019
The Hurricanes now sit firmly in the driver’s seat in the series, but must overcome a shaky record against the Islanders on home ice to close it out. Carolina has scored just six total goals while losing five of six to New York in Raleigh.
Indeed, Carolina has endured regular beatings from the islanders at home, going 3-6-3 in 12 contests since November 2013.
The Hurricanes now sit firmly in the driver’s seat in the series, but must overcome a shaky record against the Islanders on home ice
That said, the Hurricanes have been outstanding on home ice this season, racking up an impressive 16-6-0 record in their final 22 regular-season games and following up with three home victories in their first-round win over Washington.
Long Playoff Runs Nothing New in Carolina
The Hurricanes also enjoy the benefit of a strong historical track record in the playoffs. While the club has qualified for the playoffs on just six occasions since relocating from Hartford in 1997, they have made those appearances count.
Carolina has advanced at least as far as the Eastern Conference Finals in its past three playoff appearances, including a stunning Stanley Cup victory over the Detroit Red Wings in 2002.
They are currently deadlocked with the Boston Bruins as a +450 second-favorites in the Stanley Cup futures.
Physical Play, Stolen Wins by Lehner Keys to Series Victory for New York
However, it may be a little early to count out the Islanders. New York failed to get the bounces, or the calls, at Barclays Center in the first two games of the series; but they outshot Carolina by a clear 27-18 margin in Game 2 and were extremely unlucky to not at least force OT. They have also lit up McElhinney, scoring three or more in each of the last four games in which they have faced the 35-year-old.
The Islanders have regularly laid the body on the Hurricanes during the series, as well, while also dominating in the faceoff circle. That is going to pay dividends for New York moving forward, especially since they dispatched the Penguins in four games while the Canes went to seven against the Capitals.
…with Petr Mrazek and Robin Lehner going save for save into OT at 0-0… pic.twitter.com/ArP4XWSZvH
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) April 27, 2019
Lastly, the Robin Lehner factor cannot be underestimated. The Islander goaltender continues to be spectacular in the playoffs, compiling a league-leading 1.47 goals against average and .952 SV% in his six playoff appearances.
However, the mercurial Swede will likely have to steal multiple games if the Islanders are to rebound and clinch their first Eastern Conference Final berth since 1993.
Pick: Carolina Hurricanes to win series (-450)
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
