The New York Islanders put on a strong performance in Game 1 against the heavily favored Carolina Hurricanes, despite ultimately falling 3-1. The Islanders dominated the first two periods, but Carolina’s Frederik Andersen saved 34 of 35 shots to keep the Hurricanes in the game.
The Islanders’ impressive play in Game 1 suggests that they will not be an easy opponent in the series. Despite being +205 underdogs for Game 2, the Islanders’ price is still sitting above +200, indicating that they may be a worthwhile underdog bet.
In Game 1, both teams struggled to produce from their star players. Jake Guentzel, Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis were kept quiet by the Isles, while Mat Barzal, Bo Horvat, and Brock Nelson were held in check by the Hurricanes.
It’s tough to make any definitive conclusions from Game 1 of a best-of-seven series, but the Islanders have shown they can compete with the Hurricanes and have room for improvement in Game 2.
