The New York Islanders are fighting to stay alive in the Stanley Cup playoffs after falling into a daunting 3-1 hole in their series against the Carolina Hurricanes (New York Post). The Islanders’ recent strategy has been to dominate on the hitting front, and it paid off in Game 5 when a puck hit Sebastian Aho in the face, leading to a second-period goal for the Islanders (USA Today). Brock Nelson scored the game-winning goal by knocking in an airborne puck that had bounced off Aho’s face (News-Item).
The Islanders’ victory in Game 5 was crucial as they would have been eliminated from the playoffs otherwise. The Hurricanes lead the series 3-2 going into Game 6 (Japan Today). The Islanders’ strategy of aggressive hitting proved effective as Pierre Engvall and Brock Nelson each had a goal and an assist to fend off elimination and keep their season alive (The Rink Live).
Game 6 will take place at the newly built UBS Arena, where the Islanders will be looking to tie the series against a tough Carolina team (The Hockey News). To watch the game, fans can stream it live or tune in to the TV channel broadcasting the game (Sports Illustrated). The Hurricanes are not taking anything for granted despite their lead in the series, saying there is no such thing as breathing room (The News & Observer).
For fans looking to bet on the game, player prop bets and odds for the Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders NHL Playoffs First Round Game 6 are available (WNDU). It will be a pivotal game for both teams as they look to fight for their Stanley Cup playoff hopes (MLive.com).
