Islanders vs Hurricanes Game 1 Odds, Picks, and Predictions: Carolina Delivers the Goods in Game 1

The New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes meet at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Monday night for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. 

The Islanders qualified for the playoffs as the top Wild Card, managing to avoid the President’s Trophy-winning Bruins in the process.

The Hurricanes held on for the Metropolitan Division title, their third straight division championship while posting three wins in four regular-season games against the Islanders. 

Will the Islanders seize home-ice advantage with an opening-game upset, or will the Hurricanes feed off the home crowd and roll to a Game 1 win?

We break it all down in our NHL betting picks for Islanders vs. Hurricanes below. 

Islanders vs Hurricanes Game 1 odds

Islanders vs Hurricanes series odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 17, 2023.

Islanders vs Hurricanes Game 1 predictions

The New York Islanders finished the regular season strong, posting three victories in the final four outings. Of course, the final two wins came against a pair of non-playoff teams, and they lost the most recent meeting in Raleigh on April 2 by a 2-1 count.

New York’s Ilya Sorokin was in the crease for that most recent meeting two weeks ago, and he was stellar, turning aside 33 of the 35 shots he faced. Unfortunately, he had very little support, and Frederik Andersen allowed just a single goal on 22 shots.

Sorokin went 1-3-0 with a 2.79 GAA and .911 SV% in four starts against the Hurricanes during the regular season.

Andersen is expected to be in the crease, and it’s his first playoff start since Aug. 2020 when he was a member of the Maple Leafs. He suffered a lower-body injury in Colorado down the stretch of the regular season and missed the entire postseason.

The Great Dane ended up facing the Isles in three of the four meetings in the regular season, going 2-1-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .905 SV%.

New York has an amazing 10-1 mark in the past 11 conference quarterfinals games. That’s all well and good, but looking at recent results, the Isles have also lost four of their past five games on the road.

The Carolina Hurricanes have racked up 23 wins in the past 34 tries against winning teams, and it will get off to a good start in Game 1, albeit in a lower-scoring affair.

My best bet: Hurricanes moneyline (-165 at BetMGM)

Islanders vs Hurricanes Game 1 moneyline analysis

The Islanders enter this game as decisive underdogs. They lost 2-1 in its most recent game as an underdog at Carolina, but New York was able to cover the puck line.

In fact, New York is 8-2 in the past 10 games as an underdog on the puck line, including six outright victories.

For Carolina, it won the final two games of the regular season, winning both matchups against the Red Wings and Panthers by 2+ goals.

While I like the Hurricanes on the moneyline, I'm not fond of playing the Canes on the puck line. As a favorite, Carolina has covered the puck line in just one of the past six instances, including three outright setbacks.

Playing Carolina on the moneyline is the best play, but I’d avoid playing the puck line. It’s a little expensive to back New York on the puck line, but I just don’t see the Hurricanes covering, either.

Islanders vs Hurricanes Game 1 Over/Under analysis

It’s all about the Under lately for both of these sides. New York is on a 3-1-1 Under run across the past five against Metropolitan Division teams, and the Under is 2-1 in the past three meetings with the Canes.

The Under is also 4-1-1 in the past six games when playing on three or more days of rest while going 8-3-1 in the previous 12 games in the first round of the playoffs.

As far as Carolina is concerned, the Under went 4-0 in the final four regular-season home games, while cashing in seven of the previous eight against Metro foes.

The Under is also 8-2 in the past 10 games overall, as the Hurricanes have had some issues lighting the lamp down the stretch.

While it had a rare 6-goal outburst at Florida to wrap up the Metropolitan Division title in style, Carolina has scored three or fewer goals in nine of the past 11 outings, including that April 2 matchup with New York.

Islanders vs Hurricanes betting trend to know

The Hurricanes are 13-3 in the past 16 meetings with the Islanders, including 6-2 in the previous eight meetings at PNC Arena. Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs Hurricanes.

Islanders vs Hurricanes Game 1 game info

Islanders vs Hurricanes Game 1 injuries

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