Decomposition of the Islanders-Hurricanes playoffs

The Islanders and Hurricanes meet for the first time in the playoffs as they enter the first game of their second-round series Friday night at Barclays Center.

The Islanders beat the Penguins for four games while the Hurricanes, who had doubled their deficit, eliminated the defending Stanley Cup Capitals with a 4-3 double overtime victory in Game 7 on Wednesday. evening in Washington.

Here is the detail of this series:

Before

islanders: Coach Barry Trotz is able to roll four lines, usually having his "line of identity" of Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck on the ice to start each period. Clutterbuck finished the fourth game against the Penguins and missed two practices, but will be able to start the series. Right winger Jordan Eberle scored one goal in all four first-round games against Mathew Barzal (five assists) and Anders Lee. Second-row center Brock Nelson scored three goals against the Penguins.

hurricanes: Hurricanes can also roll four balanced lines. The top line of Sebastian Aho between Teuvo Teravainen and former Icelandic Nino Niederreiter gave the capitals a speed. Second-row center Jordan Staal (three goals, three assists) was sometimes dominant in the series and right winger Justin Williams is one of the best-informed veterans of the game. Third-line left winger Warren Foegele scored four goals and two assists. The health of rookie right wing Andrei Svechnikov (20 goals, 17 assists in the regular season) is questioned after being eliminated in match 3 with Alex Ovechkin.

Edge: islanders

defenders

islanders: Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock formed a pair off in the first round against Sidney Crosby's squad. Nick Leddy and rookie Devon Toews are two of the best skaters on the team. Like Pelech and Pulock, Scott Mayfield is a big blue that has grown rapidly this season. Johnny Boychuk, who won a Cup with the Bruins in 2011, was lost for three to four weeks when he blocked a shot from the left leg in the fourth game. Thomas Hickey, who plays sporadically since a head injury, prevented him from playing for 29 games. from December 18 to February 5, 23, will team with Leddy in the absence of Boychuk.

hurricanes: The Hurricanes generate a lot of offense from their backs because Dougie Hamilton (18 goals, 21 assists in the regular season), Justin Faulk (11, 24) and Jaccob Slavin (eight, 23) are all comfortable to get up from the 'attack. Slavin, with nine assists, and Hamilton, with three goals and three assists, were two of the Hurricanes' top three scorers against the Capitals. Former Calvin de Haan insular was a major asset to the defense since he was paired with Trevor van Riemsdyk.

Edge: Hurricanes

Goalkeepers:

islanders: Vezina Trophy finalist Robin Lehner averaged 1.47 and a .956 save percentage against the Penguins, stopping 130 of 136 shots and allowing just three goals in the last three games. Thomas Greiss, who shared the Jennings Trophy with Lehner, won three of four games he had started against the Hurricanes in the regular season, making 45 saves in a 2-1 overtime win on Oct. 4.

hurricanes: Petr Mrazek had a 2.54 goals-against average and .899 save percentage against the Capitals, but was strong when he was to be at both Games 6 and 7 after the Hurricanes' loss. He is an aggressive goalkeeper who prefers to challenge the shooters. Curtis McElhinney (20-11-2, 2.58 GAA, .912% backup) is the backup.

Edge: islanders

Special Teams

islanders: The power play, which ranked 28th in the regular season, scored one goal in each of the first two games against the Penguins, although it was 1 for 6 in the second game and 2 for 13 in total . But it was shots on goal that were a crucial factor in the first set since the Penguins' powerful power play, which includes Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Kris Letang, was held to a 1-for-11 performance.

hurricanes: The Hurricanes placed 20th in the regular season and earned a 3 – 25 power play record against the Capitals, while Hamilton scored two of the goals for the benefit of the man. Their shots fought a bit against the Ovechkin-led Capitals power play, which scored 6-24, although Aho scored a crucial penalty kill in Game 7 and the Hurricanes broke the lead. of a Capitals man in the second overtime.

Edge: same

framing

islanders: Barry Trotz just won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals last season and got the best defensive turnaround in the NHL for 100 years with the Islanders.

hurricanes: Few teams were as entertained as the Hurricanes this season (see the videos of their celebrations after the win), but they also quickly adapted the bulldog attitude of their freshman coach, Rod Brind & ###. Love, Captain Solitary Cup in 2006.

Edge: islanders

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He started reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has already covered the Rangers and the Devils. The Jets, St. John's and MLB were also named.