Islanders vs. Hurricanes Odds
| Islanders Odds | +150 |
| Hurricanes Odds | -182 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 +106/ -130 |
Here's everything you need to know about Islanders vs. Hurricanes on Saturday, Dec. 23 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
These Metropolitan Division opponents have already squared off twice this season, with each team claiming a win. Will Carolina take care of business as a home favorite, or will New York play spoiler?
Let's dig into the NHL odds and make an Islanders vs Hurricanes prediction and pick.
(Ready to get in on the Hurricanes betting action in North Carolina? You’ll soon be able to join in on NC sports betting, as the state is expected to come online in 2024.)
New York Islanders
There have been five or fewer total goals scored in each of New York's previous two games, a trend we should expect to continue Saturday. As it typically does, the Islanders' goaltending is carrying this team.
Ilya Sorokin, who continues to cement himself as one of the world's best netminders, is slated to start. Through 20 starts this season, Sorokin boasts a .915 SV%.
Entering this contest in particularly good form, he is 3-0-1 with a .929 SV% and a 2.44 GAA over his past four starts. That success is likely to continue against Carolina, a team that often struggles against Sorokin.
Over Sorokin's past 12 starts against the Hurricanes, he owns a .920 SV% and a 2.64 GAA. As you can see, there's no reason to go against one of the league's best goaltenders in this spot.
However, Sorokin often gets little help offensively. This year, New York ranks in the bottom third of the league in both goals scored per game and shots on goal per game.
Carolina Hurricanes
We may have a great goaltending battle on our hands as Pyotr Kochetkov is slated to start for Carolina. His surface-level stats don't tell the whole story as some inconsistencies from earlier in the season are keeping this numbers down.
However, Kochetkov has been seeing the puck extremely well this month. Over his past five starts, he is 3-0-2 with a commanding .949 SV% and a 1.36 GAA.
It certainly helps his cause that Carolina is one of the best two-way teams in hockey. At 5-on-5, the Hurricanes rank fifth in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
The Hurricanes are efficient offensively, but don't quite stack up as well there are they do on offense. Therefore, it isn't too shocking that, with the hot goaltending, there have been five or fewer goals scored in four of Carolina's past six games.
Islanders vs. Hurricanes
Betting Pick & Prediction
To say neither of these clubs plays at a blistering pace would be an understatement. Given each team's slower pace and the current form of each goaltender, I like betting Under 6 in this spot and the best price in the market (+102) is at FanDuel.
That line is available under the "Total Goals (Flat Line)" tab. However, for more risk-averse bettors, there is also value in Under 6.5 (-124).
New York's offense has been enhanced by the fact that it leads the league in short-handed goals and is sixth in power play percentage. Regression is likely looming in both of those categories, and New York ranks in the bottom third in goals scored per game despite those rankings.
Pick: Under 6 (+102 at FanDuel) | Play to +100 or Take Under 6.5 at -124
