The New York Islanders (4-4-1) and Carolina Hurricanes (6-3-0) meet Thursday. Puck drop from Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+ / hulu). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Islanders vs. Hurricanes odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2024-25 season series: Tied 2-2
The Islanders suffered a 5-2 loss against the Boston Bruins on the road Tuesday as a moderate favorite (-145) as the Over (6.5) cashed. Forwards Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri scored a pair of first-period even-strength goals in the first 4:52, staking G Ilya Sorokin to a 2-0 lead. However, a power-play goal allowed early in the second opened the floodgates, and Sorokin ended up allowing 4 goals on 21 shots.
Despite the regulation loss Tuesday, New York is still 4-1-1 in the past 6 games, and the Over is 5-0 in the past 5 outings, while going 8-1 so far this season.
Carolina lost 6-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday at home as moderate favorites (-155) as the Over (6) cashed. The Canes actually led 3-2 after a goal from F Logan Stankoven early in the third period, but VGK scored 4 unanswered goals to hand Carolina its first 2-game skid of the season. It is 4-3-0 against Western Conference teams, and 2-0-0 vs. East, both at home.
Islanders at Hurricanes odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:52 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Islanders +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Hurricanes -220 (bet $220 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Islanders +1.5 (-130) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+105)Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Islanders at Hurricanes projected goalies
David Rittich (2-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .939 SV%) vs. Frederik Andersen (4-2-0, 3.10 GAA, .892 SV%)
Rittich is confirmed to start Thursday, with Sorokin starting in the second end of a back-to-back situation Friday in Washington. The journeyman Rittich has allowed 2 goals in each of his first 2 starts. He allowed 2 goals on 34 shots in a 7-2 win last Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, while kicking aside 31 of the 33 shots he faced in a 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers Oct. 16. Let’s see if he can go 3-for-3 in Thursday starts this season. It’s his first road start.
Andersen was dented for 5 goals on 34 shots against VGK last time out Tuesday, and he has allowed at least 3 goals in 5 of his 6 starts. He is 2-1-0 with a 3.60 GAA and .861 SV% in 3 home starts this season.
Islanders at Hurricanes picks and predictionsPrediction
Islanders 4, Hurricanes 3
The ISLANDERS (+180) are worth playing for the chance to nearly double up.
The Hurricanes have struggled lately, giving up plenty of goals, especially with Andersen in between the pipes. Carolina has lost 3 of the past 4 games, allowing a total of 17 goals in the 4-game span. The Canes are ripe for the taking right now.
If you’re a little more on the conservative side, and you can’t play the visitors straight up, ISLANDERS +1.5 (-130) isn’t priced out of line if you’d like a little bit of insurance.
New York has covered the past 3 games as an underdog on the puck line, with 2 outright victories and a shootout loss.
OVER 6.5 (-105) is worth a look, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Over has cashed in 5 straight games for the Islanders, and 8 of 9 games to date. The Canes have alternated the Over and Under in each of the past 6 games, with the Over outperforming the Under slightly at a 5-4 clip this season. The Over is 3-0 in 3 home games, though.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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