Tip: Are the Hurricanes extinguishing the Islanders' hope already in Game Three?

Game Three sees the Hurricanes taking on the Islanders in what has been an one-sided series up until now. With a 2-1 victory in Game One, followed by a Game Two win in overtime, the Hurricanes have established a comfortable 2-0 lead. Although the Islanders have put up a good fight in the first two games, they find themselves down by two in the series and in desperate need of a win on their home ice. While the Hurricanes aim to tighten their grip on the series, the Islanders will be hoping to bounce back in front of their own fans, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting match-up.

The Hurricanes' defense seems to be too tough to crack

The Hurricanes' offense has been inefficient throughout the season and it's certainly felt that they are missing Svechnikov and Pacioretty. Despite this, they have managed to score six goals so far, with Sebastian Aho leading the way but also with contributions from Martin Necas and Stefan Noesen, showing that it's not all about the Finn in the offensive.

The defense has also been crucial in this series, with the Hurricanes allowing only four goals so far. The defensemen, Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin, have been leading the top pairing and have added a goal and five assists from the point to further boost the offense. The entire defensive unit, including Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce, and Shayne Gostisbehere, have played a significant role in limiting shots on the net and creating turnovers in the defensive zone. In addition, Antti Raanta, the goaltender, has also stepped up in this series by making 48 saves out of the 52 shots he has faced.

It has been noticeable that the Islanders do not possess the offensive tools to unlock what we knew was one of the league's strongest defensive teams. And I don't really see how they can outmaneuver the Hurricanes' defense. As I have mentioned before, the Islanders' offense is a problem, something that can also be accused of the Hurricanes, but the difference is that the Hurricanes are a bit stronger in all respects except for the goaltender Sorokin, and he cannot bail out the Islanders in every game.

These are tight matches

Both games in this series have been tightly contested, with each game being decided by a single goal. Despite this, the Hurricanes hold a 2-0 lead. Sorokin has been performing incredibly well in goal, but he isn't receiving enough support to secure a victory. The Islanders have made some improvements in their penalty kill, but they still allowed one power-play goal. Although they are executing their game plan effectively, they are not scoring enough goals at the moment.

The Islanders' strength, like the Hurricanes, lies in their defense, as well as having one of the league's top goalkeepers. If the Islanders can get a good start in the match and take the lead, they will be a tough team to beat. If they want to break through the Hurricanes, they need to play with a lead, which is where they are at their best. The question is whether it's enough.

Conclusion and prediction

The Islanders are in dire need of a comeback in this series, but the Hurricanes have been dominant so far, and I expect them to continue their control over Game Three. With a strong forward unit led by Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas, the Hurricanes will likely build off their impressive four-goal game, generating open shots with quick passes and creating opportunities in the offensive zone. Meanwhile, defensemen Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin will add to the firepower with shots on the net from the blue line. The Hurricanes have a strong defensive record, allowing only 2.56 goals per game this season, and they should continue to limit the Islanders' offense by creating turnovers in the defensive zone and blocking shooting lanes, allowing goaltender Antti Raanta to make important saves.

I conclude that the Hurricanes are the team to bet on in Game Three. Therefore, I am betting on the Hurricanes Moneyline at +105 on Caesars.