New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes [Game 60]

			-AT-
			7:30 PM EST
Radio	Network		Arena		Network	Radio
88.7 FM WRHU	MSG+		PNC Arena		FS-CR	99.9 FM WCMC
League	Value		Metric		Value	League
21st	52.5%		Points Percentage		54.3%	20th
13th	17.11%		Net Power Play Percentage		16.85%	17th
28th	76.44%		Net Penalty Kill Percentage		81.43%	23rd
27th	93.55%		Combined Special Teams Percentage		98.28%	21st
5th	3.34		Goals for per Game (All Situations)		2.76	24th
31st	3.63		Goals against per Game (All Situations)		3.00	20th
9th	.22		Penalty +/- per Game (All Situations)		.76	1st
27th	46.79%		Shot Attempt Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		53.65%	2nd
30th	45.30%		Scoring Chance Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		53.28%	5th
8th	101.04%		P.D.O. (5V5)		98.05%	30th
3rd	9.22%		Shooting Percentage (5V5)		6.83%	28th
25th	91.82%		Save Percentage (5V5)		91.22%	30th
Data from Hockey-Reference.com and Natural Stat Trick
The Enemies' Lair
Canes Country

Fresh off of a near record setting performance by Jaroslav Halak against the New York Rangers, the New York Islanders take to the road as they head to Raleigh to take on the Carolina Hurricanes. Halak was astounding last night, stopping all 50 shots for the Islanders as they downed their crosstown rivals by a score of three to nothing. That's a heavy workload for a goalie and they've made the decision to turn to Thomas Greiss tonight.

The Islanders managed to jump both the Rangers and the Florida Panthers in points percentage last night, but they still have to jump the Hurricanes and the Columbus Blue Jackets if they wish to make the playoffs. They cannot do so tonight, but they'd be a fraction of a percent behind the Hurricanes and potentially the Blue Jackets depending on their results with the Philadelphia Flyers. Conversely, a loss in regulation would see them fall back behind the Panthers in points percentage.

The only other change to the lineup tonight will be on defense as Dennis Seidenberg gets removed for Sebastian Aho. Seidenberg is one of the two or three worst defenders in the league this year and really needs to stop getting into hockey games. As for Aho, he gets his first matchup against the eponymous forward for the Hurricanes meaning Aho Bowl 2018 is on.

The Hurricanes played Scott Darling in their contest last night and saved the superior Cam Ward for their game against the Islanders. That's probably the smart play given that the game against the Islanders had much greater playoff implications for them than the game against the New Jersey Devils. Ward is having a surprisingly resurgent season for Carolina this year.

Tonight's contest is on MSG+. Puck drop will be at 7:35 P.M. E.S.T. Everybody loves those wacky southeastern start times.

Carolina Hurricanes Projected Lineup

New York Islanders Projected Lineup