New York @ Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( May 8, 2019 ) Carolina 0, NY Islanders 0

The Carolina Hurricanes finally had a breather after coming from behind to win each of their first three games beyond regulation. The Hurricanes have a chance to notch the best start in franchise history on Friday, when they host the New York Islanders in a matchup of Metropolitan Division rivals and a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference semifinal.

Carolina erupted for four first-period goals in Tuesday's 6-3 rout of Florida to start 4-0-0 for the first time since 1995-96, when the franchise still was located in Hartford. “I didn’t love this game, probably the worst game of the bunch,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour told reporters after his team allowed 50 shots. “Lot to work on, which is great. We’re in a good spot and know we can be better.” The Islanders not only want to atone for being swept by Carolina in the playoffs, but also to erase the stench of Tuesday's 5-2 drubbing by Edmonton. "There’s always a sting when you lose to a team in the playoffs, there’s a little bit of a stink," New York coach Barry Trotz told reporters. "Not as bad as the odor we had the last game."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus (New York), FS Carolinas

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (1-2-0): Trotz juggled his lines once New York fell into a deep hole against the Oilers, dropping center Mathew Barzal from the top line and inserting Derick Brassard in his place. "Right now, I'm considering a lot of changes with guys that have been working hard," Trotz said. "We've got to be better. This is a good league. You get tested every night." One of the changes at Thursday's practice featured Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey skating on a line with Tom Kuhnhackl, who will make his season debut against Carolina.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (4-0-0): Carolina recalled right wing Julien Gauthier from Charlotte of the American Hockey League and expect him to make his NHL debut in place of Jordan Martinook, who will undergo surgery for a core muscle injury that will sideline him for 6-8 weeks. "He gets an opportunity in a real game to see what he can do," Brind'Amour said of Gauthier, a first-round draft pick in 2016 who scored twice in two games with the Checkers. "We need him to be good." Sebastian Aho, the team's leading scorer last season, recorded his first point of 2019-20 on Tuesday with an empty-net goal.

OVERTIME

1. The Islanders won three of four regular-season meetings with Carolina last season before scoring a total of five goals in their playoff series.

2. Hurricanes RW Andrei Svechnikov, the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft, has notched two assists in three straight games.

3. Islanders D Noah Dobson, who turns 20 in January, helped set up a goal in his NHL debut on Tuesday to become the first teenager in team history with an assist since Martin Biron (February 2000).

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 3, Islanders 2