Islanders Face Hurricanes With Debuts Aplenty For Both Teams: Lines & Notes

The Islanders look to extend their win streak to four games.

Stefen Rosner, Matthew Page, The Elmonters, and David Kolb

Jan 26, 2025

ELMONT, NY — After opening their weekend back-to-back with a win on Friday, the New York Islanders (20-20-7) return to action on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes (30-16-3).

Puck drop at UBS Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN.

After the Islanders picked up a 4-3 win in the first meeting between the teams this season, Carolina drew even with a 4-0 shutout win on Dec. 17. Four different Hurricanes lit the lamp, with Pyotr Kochetkov finishing with a 32-save shutout.

Both teams will see debuts and changes to their lineups on Saturday. Starting with the Islanders, defenseman Tony DeAngelo will make his season debut after signing with the team on Friday. Forward Maxim Tsyplakov is done with his three-game suspension, but he’ll be a healthy scratch, given how the forward ground has played.

The Hurricanes are coming off the heels of a blockbuster deal less than 24 hours ago, acquiring Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall from the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively, in a three-team deal. Carolina shipped off forwards Jack Drury and Martin Necas to Colorado in the trade.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Lee-Horvat-Barzal

Ducliar-Nelson-Palmieri

Cizikas-Pageau-Holmstrom

Engvall-MacLean-Gatcomb

Pelech-Pulock

Romanov-DeAngelo

George-Mayfield

Hogberg

Sorokin

Who’s Hot:

Bo Horvat has three goals in his last two games after his red light on Friday. He now owns a four-game point streak with four goals and two assists for six points in that span, including the game-winner of Friday’s contest.

Mathew Barzal also has a four-game point streak entering Saturday’s game. The forward has two goals and four assists for six points in that stretch, giving him 327 assists for his NHL career. He is one short of tying Islanders Hall of Famer Pat Flatley for eighth in franchise history.

Brock Nelson continued his recent surge on Friday, adding another goal in the victory. The forward now boasts four goals and five assists for nine points in his last seven games. He also leads active Islanders in goals and points against Carolina with 14 and 27, respectively; Anders Lee tops the team in helpers against them with 16.

After Sorokin started the front end of the back-to-back, Marcus Hogberg manned the crease for the second game on Saturday. Hogberg last started against the San Jose Sharks last Saturday, making 18 saves on 19 shots in a win. He has a pair of abbreviated appearances in his career against Carolina, posting a 3.89 GAA and .864 SV% in a pair of no decisions, most recently making six saves in relief on Dec. 17.

Opponents Notes:

Sebastian Aho had a three-point game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, the 47th of his career. After a goal and assist in his last date with the Islanders, he has a six-game point streak against them entering play on Saturday, tallying four goals and three assists in that span.

Shayne Gostisbehere has a four-game assist streak against the Islanders after recording a pair of helpers on Dec. 17. He has seven assists in that span. Andrei Svechnikov has also impressed against the Islanders in their first two meetings. The former second-overall pick has three goals across those games.

Seth Jarvis had a four-point game on Thursday night against Columbus, the first one of his NHL career. The 22-year-old had two goals and assists in the win. Jesperi Kotkaniemi has also been hot as of late, the forward has four goals in his last three games.

Newly-acquired forward Taylor Hall leads active Hurricanes in goals against New York, owning 17 in 35 career matchups; he had a goal and assist in their home-and-home set in December. Captain Jordan Staal leads in the remaining offensive categories with 34 assists and 50 points.

After shutting the Islanders out in their last matchups, Kochetkov will be in net for the Hurricanes on Saturday. He picked up the win against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday with 22 saves on 23 shots last time out. Against the Islanders, he is 4-2-1 with a 2.51 GAA and .897 SV% in seven regular season matchups against them, making the aforementioned 32-save shutout in his last assignment agi

Carolina Hurricnanes Latest Lines: