The New York head into their March 30, 2025, road game against the Carolina Hurricanes in need of a bounce-back effort, as they fight to remain in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. With a record hovering just above the .500 mark, the Islanders have been one of the more inconsistent teams in the league this season, showing flashes of their potential only to follow them up with stretches of underwhelming play. Road games have been a particular struggle, with the team covering the spread in just 2 of their last 7 away matchups. That inconsistency on the road has been fueled by a mix of stagnant offense, mental lapses on defense, and a power play that has failed to generate the kind of production needed to pull out close games. Offensively, the Islanders continue to be led by Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson, who anchor the top two lines and provide much of the team’s scoring punch. Barzal, with his elite speed and playmaking ability, can create offense out of nothing, but he hasn’t had the support around him to consistently convert those opportunities into goals. Nelson, meanwhile, has maintained his reputation as a reliable goal scorer, particularly in tight games and on the power play. Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee provide physicality and a net-front presence, but the Islanders’ offensive depth has struggled to consistently contribute beyond the top six. The team averages just 2.8 goals per game, and their struggles to generate high-danger chances—especially on the road—have often left them playing from behind early in contests. Defensively, the Islanders pride themselves on a structured system built on patience and positioning, a hallmark of their play over the past few seasons.

However, this season that structure has shown cracks. Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock remain their most trusted defensive pair, with both logging heavy minutes and matching up against opponents’ top lines. Noah Dobson has provided offensive upside from the back end, leading the team’s defensemen in points, but he’s also been prone to defensive zone turnovers that have cost the team in critical moments. The Islanders allow just under 3.0 goals per game, a number that has steadily risen during the second half of the season as defensive support in transition has faltered and penalty kill units have sagged. Goaltending remains the biggest strength for the Islanders, with Ilya Sorokin often being asked to carry the load. Sorokin boasts a save percentage near .915, and his athleticism and ability to make highlight-reel saves have kept the Islanders competitive in games they might otherwise have lost. However, he’s frequently under pressure due to defensive breakdowns and extended zone time for the opposition. The team’s penalty kill is operating at about 78%, a middling mark that has not been enough to swing momentum in their favor when shorthanded. To secure a win against a high-octane Carolina Hurricanes team, the Islanders will need to play a nearly flawless road game—limiting turnovers, staying out of the penalty box, and getting elite goaltending from Sorokin. They must also find a way to generate offense against one of the league’s stingiest home defenses, something that has eluded them in previous visits to Raleigh. A win would be a major boost to their playoff hopes, but it will require one of their most disciplined and complete performances of the season.