Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions March 30th 2025

Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Islanders March 30th 2025

Looking to win big? The Islanders and Hurricanes face off at 5:00 ET on ESPN+. The Hurricanes are hosting the game at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC. The over/under for this matchup is currently set at 5.5 goals and the Hurricanes are the -1.5 favorite to win at home vs. the Islanders.

New York vs. Carolina Key Information

• Teams: Islanders at Hurricanes
• Where: Lenovo Center Raleigh
• Date: Sunday, March 30th
• Betting Odds CAR -286 | NYI +235 O/U 5.5

The Islanders Can Win If…

The Islanders dropped to 32-30-10 after a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. Entering as underdogs on the puck line, the total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the combined score of 7 surpassed that.

After falling behind 2-0, the Islanders managed to cut the deficit to 3-2 before the Rangers pulled away. Casey Cizikas and Brock Nelson each scored for the Islanders in the loss.

In their 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders took 37 shots on goal but only found the net twice. Casey Cizikas scored his first goal of the season, while Brock Nelson added his fifth, with just 8 seconds left in the second period.

The Islanders recorded 23 giveaways and were held scoreless in the first and third periods. Pierre Engvall picked up his first assist of the year on Cizikas’ goal, and Simon Holmstrom notched his fourth assist.

Defensively, the Islanders gave up the first goal just 3:44 into the first period and allowed two more in the third, including an empty-netter. Ilya Sorokin recorded 35 saves with an 89.7% save percentage, but the defense allowed 39 shots on goal. The Islanders also had 17 hits and 12 takeaways.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Islanders have gone 0-3 straight up. This includes going 0-3 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 3-0.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Islanders have gone 3-7 straight up. Across these games, their puck line record was just 3-7, while posting an over-under record of 6-3-1.

The Hurricanes Can Win If…

Carolina improved to 44-24-4 with a 4-2 road win over the Capitals. The Hurricanes covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line.

Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the first period, but the Capitals responded with two goals in the final minute of the period. The Hurricanes tied it up early in the second and added two more goals, including an empty-netter, to secure the win.

Carolina’s offense fired 45 shots on goal in their 4-2 win over Washington. Dmitry Orlov scored twice, bringing his season total to three goals. Martin Necas, who netted his sixth goal of the year, also added two assists, giving him 12 assists this season. Andrei Svechnikov closed out the scoring with his sixth goal, an empty-netter.

The Hurricanes were held scoreless on the power play and recorded 14 giveaways. They scored once in the first period, twice in the second, and added their final goal with just nine seconds left in the game.

Defensively, the Hurricanes will look to carry their momentum from the last game, where they held the Capitals scoreless in the second and third periods. Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves with a 90.5% save percentage, and the defense added 7 takeaways, 10 hits, and 11 blocks.

• Spanning across their last three games, Carolina have gone 2-1. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 2-1. Their over-under record in these games was 1-2.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Hurricanes have gone 8-2 straight up. Their record vs the puck line sits at 7-3 in these matchups, while posting a 3-6-1 over-under mark.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a straight moneyline bet, then the Hurricanes are the way to go. However, with a payout of -286, you might consider using this bet as a leg of a parlay.

For my recommended choice in the puck line, I’m leaning towards the Islanders to cover. Even if the Hurricanes secure a straight-up win, this game is expected to be tightly contested, and the Islanders should cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 5.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

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Hurricanes Riding Momentum into Matchup

The Carolina Hurricanes (44-24-4, 92 points) enter the contest having won 10 of their last 12 games. Offensively, they’ve been clicking, notching four or more goals in six of those recent wins.

Carolina’s 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night pushed the Habs to their fifth consecutive defeat and showed once again why the Hurricanes are becoming a dangerous postseason contender.

Taylor Hall has rediscovered his scoring touch, notching goals in three straight games and seven overall in his past 10 outings. Jackson Blake added a goal and two assists against Montreal — his first tally since January 23 — as the team’s depth continues to step up.

Andrei Svechnikov made his return from a seven-game injury absence, injecting immediate energy into the lineup with an empty-net goal to seal the win.

The Canes may turn to goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov for this one, following their goalie rotation pattern. Kochetkov was sharp in their 4-0 shutout win against the Islanders back on December 17.

Fans tracking the team’s betting performance can follow Carolina’s odds and picks here.

Islanders Searching for Answers

The New York Islanders (32-30-10, 74 points) are going in the opposite direction. A 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday marked their fourth straight defeat. Despite three third-period goals, defensive lapses doomed the Isles once again.

Coach Patrick Roy expressed faith in his squad’s effort but acknowledged the team’s need to capitalize on more of its scoring chances. The Islanders have now allowed at least three goals in five consecutive games — a concerning stat for a team still fighting for a Wild Card playoff spot.

Adam Boqvist stressed the importance of urgency at this point in the season: “We needed two points. Hopefully, we can get that Sunday. I think this time of the year you just have to refocus.”

Defenseman Tony DeAngelo — a former Hurricane — added a late goal against Tampa Bay, but it wasn’t enough to salvage the night.

Previous Meetings and Goalie Outlook

This will be the fourth and final regular-season meeting between the two teams. The home team has won all three previous matchups this season. Carolina took the most recent clash 4-0, a game where Kochetkov made 32 saves.

With Frederik Andersen riding a personal six-game winning streak, Carolina has the luxury of rotating their goalies while maintaining elite-level performance.

Playoff Stakes Rise

With playoff positioning on the line for both teams, Sunday’s tilt could have significant implications. Carolina aims to close the gap in the Metropolitan Division standings, while the Islanders are fighting to stay alive in the Eastern Conference race.

Looking to make informed picks? Check out our expert NHL betting guide for insights into Sunday’s marquee matchups.