Islanders at Hurricanes Game Preview

SEASON SERIES This is the second of three regular season meetings between the Isles and Hurricanes this year. New York is 0-1-0 in the season series. The third and final game between the two sides is the Islanders’ season finale on Apr. 14.

HURRICANES NOTES The Hurricanes enter Saturday night as winners of their last two games, both against the Blue Jackets. Their most recent victory was a 5-1 win on Thursday night on home ice. Logan Stankoven (2G), Alexander Nikishin, Andrei Svechnikov, and Jordan Martinook were Carolina’s goal scorers, and Frederik Andersen made nine saves on 10 shots in the win. The Hurricanes (102 points) lead the Metropolitan Division and clinched a playoff berth on Thursday night. They are 10 points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins (92 points), who sit in second place in the Metro. Sebastian Aho is riding a four-game point streak, with five points (5A) in that stretch. Aho has 25 points (8G, 17A) in his last 25 outings and leads the Hurricanes with 77 points (25G, 52A) this season. Andrei Svechnikov also enters Saturday night on a point streak, with four points (3G, 1A) in his last three games. Svechnikov ranks second on the Hurricanes with 65 points (28G, 37A) this season. Rounding out Carolina’s top line, Seth Jarvis has 10 points (2G, 8A) in his last 10 games. Jarvis is fourth on the team with 63 points (30G, 33A) in this campaign. The Hurricanes lead the NHL with 439 takeaways, which is 44 ahead of the next closest team (Washington Capitals) at 395. Carolina also ranks first in the league with a league-low 23.9 shots against per game. They gave up just 10 shots in their most recent win over the Blue Jackets. The Hurricanes’ power-play (24.8%) is tied for the third best in the NHL and has converted seven times in their last five games. Carolina’s penalty kill (80.8%) ranks 12th in the league.