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Carolina Hurricanes: 3 keys to beating the New York Islanders

By Conor Power

TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 01: Ryan Suzuki #61 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a goal during a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on October 01, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 01: Ryan Suzuki #61 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a goal during a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on October 01, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 05: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on during Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 05: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on during Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

True star talent

With the likes of Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina is lucky to boast two of the great talents of the game in their positions. That is something the New York Islanders do not have the luxury of doing. We know that the Carolina Hurricanes have this top-end talent because we’ve seen that Carolina has the ability to get bailed out by their stars when they’re in trouble.

It’s going to be important for Carolina that this talent comes out and dominates the Islanders’ defensive structure. If the Islanders are allowed to set up their structure and get into the flow of their defensive game with their netminders behind looking to shut the door, then Carolina will be in for a tough game. Carolina will need their stars to get on the board and early.

Svechnikov is also playing his first game after receiving his new deal worth $7.75 million over 8 years. In order to get that deal, the team has put a lot of faith in him and his abilities moving forward. Now that he is a big-money player, he is going to be expected to come through in the big moments for this team when they need him most.

It’s no secret that Carolina’s two true talents are going to be a big factor in this game. When Carolina plays, the SAT line is always a major factor in the game, and the team normally goes how the line does. If the line starts to play well, the team is usually victorious. If the team struggles, usually it’s because the line has been sufficiently shut down. That’s just how it goes. They set the pace.

One more big-time player to keep an eye on, not just tonight but through the season is Martin Necas. He’s at the end of his contract but has started to become a human highlight reel going forward. Necas started to emerge as a true scary talent last year and came through in the clutch for the Carolina Hurricanes. Now there are questions regarding his ability to do it through a season.

There are 82 games this season, the Hurricanes are going to need Svechnikov and Aho to break open as many of those games as they can, but the more stars the Canes can throw at opponents, the better the chances the teams have of winning those games. It’s a positive for the team going forward, and it will increase the chances of the team bringing home the Stanley Cup.

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