New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions January 25th 2025

New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes January 25th 2025

The Hurricanes and Islanders are set to face off at 7:30 ET on ESPN+. The Islanders will host the game at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. The Hurricanes are favored by -1.5 in this Metropolitan division showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 5.5 goals.

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Carolina vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Hurricanes at Islanders
• Where: UBS Arena Elmont
• Date: Saturday, January 25th
• Betting Odds CAR -181 | NYI +149 O/U 5.5

The Hurricanes Can Win If…

Carolina improved to 30-16-3 with a 4-2 road win over the Capitals. The Hurricanes covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6 goals, resulting in a push.

Carolina took an early lead, but the Capitals responded with two goals in the first period. The Hurricanes tied it up in the second period and added another goal to take the lead, eventually sealing the win with an empty-net goal in the third period.

Carolina fired 45 shots on goal in their 4-2 win over Washington, with Dmitry Orlov scoring twice, bringing his season total to 3 goals. Martin Necas added his 6th goal of the season and picked up two assists, giving him 12 assists for the year. Andrei Svechnikov closed out the scoring with his 6th goal, an empty-netter.

After a scoreless first period, Necas got the Hurricanes on the board with his 6th goal of the season. Orlov followed with his second goal of the game, also his 3rd of the season. Carolina had 14 giveaways in the game.

Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves with a 90.5% save percentage, helping the Hurricanes secure a 4-2 win. Carolina’s defense finished with 7 takeaways and 10 hits. After allowing two late goals in the first period, the Hurricanes’ defense shut out the Capitals in the second and third periods.

• Carolina will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 3-0 over their past three games. In addition, their puck line record over this stretch is 2-1 while posting a 2-1 over-under mark.
• Across Carolina’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 7-3. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 4-6 and an over-under mark of 4-5-1.

The Islanders Can Win If…

The Islanders dropped to 20-20-7 after a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. The total was set at 6 goals, but the combined score of 7 surpassed that mark. As +1.5 goal underdogs, the Islanders failed to cover the puck line.

New York fell behind 2-0 before Casey Cizikas scored at 15:22 in the second period. Brock Nelson added another goal with just 8 seconds left in the second, cutting the deficit to 3-2. However, the Rangers pulled away with two more goals in the third period.

Casey Cizikas netted his first goal of the season, while Brock Nelson added his fifth in the Islanders’ 5-2 loss to the Rangers. Nelson’s goal came with just 8 seconds left in the second period.

The Islanders fired 37 shots on goal but were held scoreless in the first and third periods. They recorded 23 giveaways and were unable to convert on any power play opportunities.

The Islanders’ defense gave up a goal just 3:44 into the first period, and they allowed two more in the third, including an empty-netter, as they fell 5-2 to the Rangers. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with an 89.7% save percentage, while the defense recorded 12 takeaways and 17 hits.

• Through their last three games, the Islanders have a record of 3-0. In terms of betting, the team went 3-0 puck line in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 0-3.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Islanders have gone 6-4 straight up. Their record vs the puck line sits at 7-3 in these matchups, while posting a 2-8 over-under mark.

The Lean

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Islanders to pick up on a win over the Hurricanes at home. With the moneyline sitting at +149, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Islanders straight-up.

Our projections have the Islanders pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Islanders, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to 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.

Daily Nhl Picks & Predictions

Hurricanes Make Bold Moves Ahead of Islanders Showdown: Blockbuster Trade Signals Stanley Cup Ambition

Reaching the postseason has become routine for the Carolina Hurricanes, but now they’ve made it clear they’re aiming higher – much higher. A blockbuster trade Friday underscored their commitment to ending a 17-year Stanley Cup drought, and their latest additions could debut Saturday night against the New York Islanders in Elmont, N.Y.

With the Hurricanes riding a four-game win streak and sitting comfortably in playoff contention, the team shocked the NHL world by acquiring elite forwards Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall. The trade, a three-team deal involving the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks, signals Carolina’s intention to finally capture hockey’s ultimate prize.

The Blockbuster Trade That Shook the NHL

What Carolina Gained

The Hurricanes landed:

• Mikko Rantanen: A power forward with 101 career postseason points and a pivotal role in Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory.
• Taylor Hall: A former Hart Trophy winner who adds another layer of offensive firepower.

Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky emphasized the strategic importance of the deal, saying, “Mikko is one of the premier power forwards in our sport. Adding elite skill like his and Taylor’s should fit seamlessly into our system and elevate our game.”

The Cost of Winning Now

To secure these stars, Carolina sent:

• Martin Necas: The team’s leading scorer this season, with 55 points.
• Jack Drury: A promising young center.
• Draft picks: A second-round pick (2025), a fourth-round pick (2026), and a third-round pick (2025) to Chicago for prospect Nils Juntorp.

The trade is a calculated gamble: while Necas has been crucial in the regular season, his postseason production (30 points in 59 games) pales compared to Rantanen’s (101 points in 81 games).

Hurricanes’ Playoff Aspirations

Postseason Struggles

Under head coach Rod Brind’Amour, the Hurricanes have made the playoffs in six straight seasons, but they’ve fallen short of the Eastern Conference Finals every time. Their lone Stanley Cup title came in 2006, and the franchise is determined to break this cycle of near-misses.

Rantanen and Hall bring not only skill but also the postseason pedigree the team desperately needs. With the Metropolitan Division tightly contested, their contributions will be crucial in solidifying Carolina’s bid for hockey’s biggest prize.

Islanders’ Moves to Stay in the Race

While the Hurricanes’ trade stole the spotlight, the New York Islanders made a quieter yet strategic move by signing defenseman Tony DeAngelo from Russia’s KHL. The Islanders, who trail the Columbus Blue Jackets by six points for the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot, are focused on shoring up their blue line and power play.

Why DeAngelo Matters

With defensemen Noah Dobson (lower body) and Mike Reilly (heart condition) out indefinitely, DeAngelo fills a critical gap. Known for his playmaking ability, he is expected to help address the Islanders’ league-worst power play.

Center Bo Horvat praised the move, saying, “He’s so good with the puck – his decisions on the power play make him a threat.”

Game Preview: Hurricanes vs. Islanders

Saturday’s matchup pits two teams with contrasting stakes:

• Carolina: Riding high after four straight wins and aiming to integrate their new stars into the lineup.
• New York: Desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 Friday.

The Islanders have been eliminated by the Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs for two straight seasons, adding an extra layer of motivation. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will look to maintain their momentum and test their revamped roster.

The Big Picture

The Hurricanes’ blockbuster trade represents a defining moment in their season. By acquiring Rantanen and Hall, they’ve positioned themselves as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. While the Islanders are fighting to stay in the postseason conversation, the Hurricanes are laser-focused on one goal: lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2006.

As these two Metropolitan Division rivals face off, the stakes couldn’t be higher – for both teams and their respective ambitions.

Key Takeaways:

1. Hurricanes’ Aggressive Approach: The trade for Rantanen and Hall underlines Carolina’s determination to win now.
2. Islanders’ Resilience: DeAngelo’s addition shows New York isn’t giving up on their playoff hopes.
3. Playoff Implications: Saturday’s game serves as a litmus test for the Hurricanes’ new lineup and a must-win for the Islanders.

This is a pivotal moment in the NHL season, and all eyes will be on Elmont, N.Y., as two teams with very different trajectories collide. Can Carolina’s bold moves pay off, or will the Islanders spoil their debut? The answer begins to unfold Saturday night.