When: Sunday, April 24, 1 p.m. EST
Watch:Bally Sports South, Bally Sports App
Listen:99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes.com/Listen, Hurricanes App
Canes Record:51-20-8 (110 Points, 1st - Metropolitan Division)
Canes Last Game:3-2 Win (OT) over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, April 24.
Islanders Record:35-33-10 (80 Points, 5th - Metropolitan Division)
Islanders Last Game:5-3 Loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, April 24.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
THE QUICK HITS:
Last Time Out:The Canes trailed 2-0 with 4:37 remaining in regulation Saturday. They won 3-2 in overtime. A normally potent offense was held calm for most of the day by New Jersey, who was able to take a two-goal lead in Pyotr Kochetkov's NHL debut. Things looked bleak for Carolina heading into the final media timeout of the afternoon, but just 24 seconds later, a Brady Skjei shot from the wall hit off of a Devils defender and went in. 2:40 later, Nino Niederreiter put home the rebound from a Tony DeAngelo shot to force overtime. With the home team stunned, it took just Seth Jarvis 99 seconds into the three-on-three to put a bow on the victory.
History For Tony D:Setting up both the game-tying and game-winning goals on Saturday, Tony DeAngelo picked up his 40th and 41st assists of the year, as well as his 50th and 51st points of the season. It is the first time in Canes history a defenseman has had 41 assists and 51 points in a season, etching new single-season highs for the organization.
Runnin' With Rants:Antti Raanta earned a second consecutive win Thursday against the Jets, stopping 20 out of 22. With Frederik Andersen out of the lineup until at least next week with a lower-body injury, "Rants" will likely have the nod today with Kochetkov having started yesterday. Thus far this year he is 14-5-4 with a .912 save percentage (SV%).
Hot Hands:Two of Saturday's goal scorers, Brady Skjei and Seth Jarvis, now enter today on four-game point streaks.
So, What's The Plan?:After yesterday's win, the Canes got some help from the Boston Bruins, who beat the Rangers by a score of 3-1. That means Carolina now has a two-point advantage over New York in the standings, with both teams having three games to go. In simplest terms, if the Canes win today and Tuesday against the Rangers, they will lock up the 2022 Metropolitan Division Championship. There are other avenues to get it done, but Carolina controls their own destiny at this point.
A Look At The Other Side:The Islanders suffered a disappointing defeat to Buffalo yesterday, with a three-goal second period turning out to be the difference. Yesterday was the fourth consecutive loss for New York, with the first three coming to Toronto, Florida and the Rangers. Goaltending has been a strong suit for the Islanders most of the season, given that they rank inside the top ten for average goals allowed per game. Ilya Sorokin, who did play yesterday, and his .926 SV% ranks only behind Igor Shesterkin of the Rangers.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Milestones Within Reach: Jesper Fast is one point shy of 200 for his career. Teuvo Teravainen is one goal shy of 100 as a member of the team. Sebastian Aho is two points shy of 400 for his NHL career.
What Are We Wearing?:The Canes will be wearing their white sweaters today.
Worth A Click:
Canes Steal Dramatic Victory In Kochetkov's Debut
Mailbag #25: The Final Week
Burnside: Slavin's Story
CanesCast Episode 209: Us? Worried?
Hurricanes April Schedule
NHL Standings
