Game Preview: Islanders at Hurricanes

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (28-25-6) AT CAROLINA HURRICANES (27-22-9)
7:30 P.M. PNC ARENA
TV: MSG+, MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7FM - WRHU, 660AM/101.9FM - WFAN
GAME NOTES
There wasn't much time for the Islanders to savor Thursday's 3-0 win over the Rangers, as the team flew down to Raleigh for Friday's matchup with the Hurricanes.
The Islanders are completing a back-to-back set on Friday, but so are the Hurricanes, who flew back to North Carolina after losing 5-2 to the New Jersey Devils in Newark on Thursday. With regards to rest, it's advantage no one.

This is a big game for the Islanders, who are chasing the Hurricanes for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders are one point back, so a regulation win vaults them into the second wild card, while a loss widens the gap to three points, with the Hurricanes holding a game in hand.
Every game is big for the Islanders at this point in the season, but this divisional matchup looms a bit larger.

LINEUP NOTES:

UPDATE: GREISS IN GOAL, AHO IS IN, SEIDENBERG IS OUT. SAME FORWARDS AS THURSDAY
ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINES:
The Isles and Canes will play the first Aho Bowl, as both teams have a Sebastian Aho on their roster. While there's lots of distinguishing features between the two Aho's, it could wind up being a fun night in the booth for Brendan Burke and Chris King.

SEASON SERIES:

The Islanders are 1-1-0 in two games against the Hurricanes this season. The Isles beat the Canes 6-4 in Brooklyn on Nov. 16, but dropped the most recent meeting 4-2 in Raleigh on Nov. 19.

BY THE NUMBERS:

8-2-2 - The Islanders record in their first game after a win over the Rangers (past 12 games).
9-for-26 - The Islanders power play over the past seven games.
101 - Shots against over the past two games.The Islanders have given up 50+ shots in consecutive games.
62 - points for Mathew Barzal. Barzal is the third-highest scoring Islanders rookie of all-time, trailing only Bryan Trottier (95) and Mike Bossy (91). Barzal is the Isles highest-scoring rookie in 40 years.
Power Play: Islanders 21.9% - 6th; Hurricanes 19.6% - 17th
Penalty Kill:Islanders 73.6% - 30th;Hurricanes 80% - 17th

THE HURRICANES:

Last Game: L 5-2 at New Jersey
Leading Scorers:Goals:Sebastian Aho - 21
Assists: Teuvo Teravainen - 32
Points:Sebastian Aho - 46
Friday's game is just as important to the Hurricanes as it is to the Islanders, as Carolina attempts to defend its playoff position.
Like the Islanders, the Hurricanes played last night, falling 5-2 to the New Jersey Devils to snap a three-game winning streak. Overall, the Hurricanes are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.
Offensively Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes in goals (21) and points (46) and has five points (2G, 3A) in two games against the Islanders this season.

Jeff Skinner has been hot of late, riding a four-game point streak (4G, 1A), while defenseman Justin Faulk recorded a hat trick against the LA Kings on Tuesday.
Cam Ward is expected to start in goal for the Hurricanes. Ward has a 1.66 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage in his last six games and is 5-1-1 in his last seven starts. Ward is 1-0-0 against the Islanders this season, stopping 27-of-29 shots on Nov. 19. The longtime Hurricanes goalie is 23-4-5 with a 2.70 GAA and a .910 SV% all-time vs the Isles.