The NHL Second Round Playoff Games have arrived as Pickswise will be handing out daily winning NHL picks starting on Friday. With over a decade of combined winning experience, Pickswise is your number one NHL second round playoff resource to win. To kick off the second round playoff games, the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders from the Eastern Conference will go toe to toe. Enjoy these free NHL second round playoff predictions? Give @Pickswise a follow and get a first hand-look on his daily research.
Hurricanes vs. Islanders Second Round Playoff Predictions
Game 1: Hurricanes vs. Islanders
Line: Islanders -134
Pickswise Expert Picks: Hurricanes WIN!
This Eastern Conference semifinal series was supposed to be another showdown between familiar foes and traditional powers Pittsburgh and Washington. The New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes had other ideas. If you can barely remember that the Penguins were even part of these playoffs, it’s not because your memory is fading; it’s because they were eliminated last Tuesday, April 16. Thus the Islanders, who swept Pitt in four straight games, will have had nine full days off by the time they take the ice for Game 1 at home on Friday.
Rest isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but nine days of it may not be ideal when you’re playing awesome hockey. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, just upset defending champion Washington in seven with a 4-3 double-overtime road triumph on Wednesday. Goalie Petr Mrazek recorded at least a .919 save percentage in three of the last four games against the Capitals, who could not generate any kind of offense during the third period and overtimes on Tuesday. Carolina is 35-17 in its last 52 overall, 4-1 in its last five against opponents with winning records, and 10-4 in its last 14 at New York.
The Islanders are 3-8 in their last 11 playing on at least three days of rest and 0-4 in their last four second-round contests. It is also worth noting that the road team is 5-1 in the last six head-to-head matchups. Don’t be surprised if the HURRICANES keep their momentum going and pull off a minor upset in Game 1.
Line: Islanders -140
Pickswise Expert Picks: Islanders WIN!
NYI’s offense should be able to get at least somewhat on track. Three different players boast at least three goals during these playoffs, including forward Jordan Eberle with four. Carolina is 2-6 in its last eight as an underdog. The Islanders are 6-1 in their last seven overall, 5-1 in their last six against teams with winning records, and 4-0 in their last four playing on one day of rest. This series will mostly likely be tied 1-1 following a NEW YORK win.
Line: Islanders +110
Pickswise Expert Picks: Islanders WIN!
In round one of these Stanley Cup playoffs, the New York Islanders engineered one of the sweeps. Now are they about to get swept, themselves? It is a possibility that has to be considered, as New York just lost its first two games against the Carolina Hurricanes at home and now has to travel south for Game 3 on Wednesday followed by another road test on Friday. The smart money, however, is on the Islanders to find the win column at least once–and probably even more than once. It’s not like they were completely outclassed in the first two contests. Carolina took the opener 1-0 in overtime and then scored two third-period goals on Sunday to prevail 2-1. The Isles’ recent dominance of Pittsburgh is not a distant memory, and that form can be easily recaptured.
Goalie Robin Lehner has been up to his usual tricks, turning aside 47 of 50 shots in the first two games against Carolina. For the ‘Canes, starter Petr Mrazek is day-to-day after leaving Game 2 early due to a lower-body injury. Forward Sebastian Aho (30 goals, 53 assists) has only one goal and one assist in the past five outings; he has lit the lamp just twice since March 9. The Islanders are 6-2 in their last eight overall, 5-0 in their last five on the road, and 5-1 in their last six at Carolina. It should also be noted that the road team is 7-1 in the last eight head-to-head matchups. Don’t be surprised if NEW YORK starts to make a series out of this.
Game 4: Hurricanes vs. Islanders
Line: Hurricanes -130
Pickswise Expert Picks: Canes WIN!
Having to go seven games in their first-round series may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Carolina Hurricanes. With only one day off in between their upset of the defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals and the opener of this best-of-seven set with the New York Islanders, the Hurricanes have not relinquished their momentum in the slightest. New York, on the other hand, swept Pittsburgh in four straight contests and thus enjoyed a week of rest. Perhaps it was too much, though, as the Islanders aren’t enjoying much of anything right now. They dropped the first two games at home to the ‘Canes and then lost at Carolina 5-2 on Wednesday, thus putting themselves on the brink of elimination in Game 4 on Friday.
New York goalie Robin Lehner allowed an uncharacteristic three goals in Game 3, but it’s safe to say he hasn’t been the problem. Instead, the Isles’ offense has produced a grand total of three goals through three outings. Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek suffered a lower-body injury during Game 2, but backup Curtis McElhinney blanked the Islanders the rest of the way in that contest and played well again on Wednesday. Either netminder–likely Mrazek–should feel confident in delivering the clinching win.
Offensively, Hurricanes forward Teuvo Teravainen scored twice in Game 3 and has found the box score in six of the past eight games. Six different team members have at least seven postseason points, including defenseman Jaccob Slavin (12 assists). New York is 4-12 in its last 16 after allowing at least five goals in its previous game. The Hurricanes are 20-6 in their last 26 at home and 4-0 in the last four meetings between the two teams. Look for CAROLINA to seal the deal.
