Preview: Round 1, Game 4 at NYI

ELMONT, NY. - The Carolina Hurricanes will try to punch their ticket to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday when they go for a fourth win against the New York Islanders.

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When: Saturday, April 27

Puck Drop: 2 p.m. ET

Series: Carolina Leads 3-0

Watch: Bally Sports, TBS, TruTv, Max

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

Odds at Time of Publishing, Provided By Fanatics Sportsbook: Canes -180

The Series So Far

• Game 1: Frederik Andersen stops 33 out of 34 shots faced, backstopping the Canes to a series-opening victory.
• Game 2: The Islanders jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Carolina responded with five answered goals to take a thrilling come-from-behind victory.
• Game 3: Andersen turns in another amazing performance, stopping 29 in a 3-2 victory.

Last Time Out

• Carolina's blue line got the game started on the right note for them on Thursday, as Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov both recorded first period goals.
• Although New York came with some pushback, Andersen was spectacular throughout, keeping his team in front.
• Sebastian Aho's second period tally would go on to serve as the game-winner, because thanks to an excellent third period from Andersen, the Canes hung on for a 3-2 win.

A Chance To Sweep

• The Canes have a chance to sweep a best-of-seven series for the second time in franchise history, with the only previous sweep also
  coming against the Islanders in the 2019 Eastern Conference Second Round.
• Hartford/Carolina has posted a 16-14 record with a chance to clinch a best-of-seven series, with a 7-3 record in those contests under Rod Brind’Amour (2019-present).
• Jake Guentzel leads all Canes skaters with 10 career goals in potential series-clinching games (13 points in 13 games with Pittsburgh), and his 13 points are tied with Brent Burns (13 in 17 games) for the team-high in those contests.

Road Warriors

• With their win in Game 3, the Canes have earned a 5-0-0 regular-season record and a 3-1 playoff record at UBS Arena.
• Carolina is now 5-1 on the road against New York in the playoffs, after also posting a 2-0 record at Barclays Center in 2019.

In Net

• Andersen shined as he made his third start in a row for the first time since last year's playoffs, but will the Canes press their luck again?
• Performance-wise, the netminder has provided every reason to go back to him for a fourth game in a row, however, the team wants to keep him fresh for what could be a long run.
• With a fresh Pyotr Kochetkov eagerly awaiting his turn, would the Canes consider giving the younger netminder a shot?
• If it is Kochetkov, he went 19-7-3 after December 12, posting a .923 save percentage that was the best among any Eastern Conference goaltender who played 30 games.

On The Other Side

• After starting and then pulling Ilya Sorokin in Game 3, the Islanders are going back to Semyon Varlamov in net for Game 4.
• Varlamov was good to start the series, stopping 23/25 and then 34/38 in Games 1 & 2. Turning away all eight in relief on Thursday, he's now called upon to try and save his team's season.
• In front of his crease, the only New York skater with multiple points in this series is Captain Anders Lee.

Injury Updates

• Forward Jesper Fast suffered an upper-body injury in the team's regular season finale on Tuesday, April 16. On Thursday, April 25, Rod Brind'Amour said that he is likely out for the rest of the postseason.
• Defenseman Brett Pesce is likely to miss the rest of Round 1 after suffering a lower-body injury during Game 2.

What Are We Wearing?

• The team will be wearing their black sweaters for all home games during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and white for all road games.

Where To Watch

• Can't make it to PNC Arena, or looking for a place to watch the road games in the series?
• Visit any Carolina Ale House in the state to watch the Canes throughout the playoffs.

What's Next After This Game?

• The Canes will fly back to Raleigh post-game regardless of the outcome.
• If they win, they are likely to be off on Sunday and return to practice on Monday. A Round 2 schedule would be released by the NHL at a later date.
• If they lose, they are scheduled to practice on Sunday and Monday, before hosting Game 5 on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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