As the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, the Carolina Hurricanes take on the New York Islanders in their first-round matchup, with the Canes favored to win. Both teams have had below-average offensive performances in the second half of the regular season, but have impressive defensive records. The Canes rank second in the league with just 210 goals allowed, while the Islanders just trail behind them with 217. The Canes' defense has been strong throughout the season, with an average of 26 shots allowed per game, while Ilya Sorokin's spectacular .924 save percentage has led the Islanders' defense.

During the regular season, the Canes won three out of four matchups between the two teams, but the Islanders won three out of their final four games. With Mathew Barzal returning after being out for two months with an injury, the Islanders may have the edge needed to upset the Canes. However, with Carolina being the first seed in the Metropolitan Division and a reliable team, it remains to be seen if the Islanders can overcome their strong defense and come out victorious in this series.