Islanders @ Hurricanes: Round 1, Game 1 thread
It’s that time again. | Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images
The rematch kicks off the 2024 playoffs in Raleigh... The 2024 NHL playoffs begin with the Islanders and Hurricanes meeting again for a first-round series in Raleigh.
Same teams, but many differences from last year — a different coach for the Islanders, obviously, but also this year they should have a healthy Mat Barzal rather than the one just returning from injury last season. However Noah Dobson, who’s had a breakout year, is in that position Barzal had last year, entering the lineup fresh off an injury, and perhaps not 100%. J-G Pageau, who’s kind of a shell of his playoff prime self but had found some effectiveness recently with Pierre Engvall and Anders Lee, is a “gametime decision.”
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have the added weaponry of deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel as well as a healthy Andrei Svechnikov, who missed last postseason.
Meanwhile, a milestone in store for a longtime Islander who may be on his last ride...:
Matt Martin will play in his 80th playoff game for the #Isles today and will become (fittingly) the 17th player in team history to do so but first since Brent Sutter in 1986.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) April 20, 2024
In net, it’s Semyon Varlamov opposite Frederick Andersen.
Against all odds, let’s go Islanders!...
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