Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions for Thursday, November 5, 2026

Nashville completely derailed Carolina's four-game winning streak on Tuesday with a blunt 4-1 loss. Now, the Hurricanes (12-3-2, 1st Metropolitan Division) travel directly to UBS Arena. They face a New York squad reeling from a significantly poorer outcome. Edmonton completely blanked the Islanders (7-5-2, 5th Metropolitan Division) in a brutal 4-0 shutout last Saturday. Carolina travels exceptionally well, securing seven victories across their 10 road contests so far. New York counters with a decent 4-2-1 home record. The action begins Thursday night at 7:00 pm ET, streaming live on Disney+. Our free NHL picks make you a winner. 

Carolina Hurricanes Looking to Bounce Back

Nashville put four goals past Carolina on Tuesday. The Hurricanes managed only one in response, a sharp drop from their 7-0 demolition of Winnipeg two days earlier. Carolina had also beaten Columbus 3-2, Boston 2-1 and St. Louis 4-0 before the Nashville loss. Four wins in five games. The defense has allowed 39 goals through 17 contests, while the offense has scored 64. Opponents haven't found much room to shoot, either. Carolina gives up just 22.3 shots per game and averages 32.9 at the other end.

Sebastian Aho has nine goals and 12 assists for a team-leading 21 points. Logan Stankoven has scored 10 times on 52 shots. Jackson Blake has another 13 assists, giving Carolina several players who can create chances. And the goaltending? Pyotr Kochetkov has 10 wins, two shutouts, a 1.64 goals-against average, and a .922 save percentage. Jaccob Slavin averages 21:18 of ice time per game on the blue line. Carolina has been tough to break down even with injuries affecting its defensive depth.

Injuries: Taylor Hall and Alexander Nikishin are out. Jordan Staal is on injured reserve.

New York Islanders Searching for a Spark

New York's recent momentum crashed last weekend. Edmonton handed the Islanders a brutal 4-0 defeat on Saturday, completely exposing a sluggish offense that struggles to generate high-danger opportunities consistently. The hosts score a mediocre 2.79 goals per contest while their defensive front allows 2.71 per night. They have managed a decent 4-2-1 mark at UBS Arena, but a home game against the division-leading Hurricanes forces them to operate with zero room for error.

Ilya Sorokin remains the clear anchor for this team in net. He has logged six victories alongside a stable 2.41 GAA and an impressive .911 save percentage through 10 appearances. Bo Horvat drives the offensive push with seven goals on 44 shots, while Matthew Schaefer operates as the primary distributor from the blue line with 10 assists. Noah Dobson continues handling a huge workload, but the roster simply lacks the firepower to handle mistakes.

Injuries: Ryan Pulock is out. Matias Maccelli, Calum Ritchie, Alexander Romanov and Mathew Barzal are on injured reserve.

Key To The Game

New York must find a way to make Kochetkov uncomfortable early. He surrendered four goals on Tuesday, meaning a heavy, high-volume shooting approach could force the rebounds the Islanders desperately need. However, Carolina simply possesses vastly superior stability across their top six forward rotation. Barzal’s extended absence places immense pressure on New York's transitional rush to create offense, which is a big chore against this Hurricanes forechecking.

Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Islanders Game Pick

• Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina has played vastly superior hockey lately, and the Hurricanes should dictate special teams. New York was dismal offensively last Saturday, proving completely unable to sustain pressure since Barzal hit injured reserve. Kochetkov remains tough to beat on the road, which limits New York's path to an upset. Aho and Stankoven give the visitors too many ways to dissect a defense, allowing nearly three goals per night. Kochetkov isn't completely unbeatable on the road, but the Hurricanes offer way too many scoring threats.

Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Islanders Over/Under Pick

• Under

New York’s offense cannot find the net, scoring two or fewer goals in three of their last five outings. Losing Barzal completely broke their flow, and Maccelli's injury leaves their passing depth completely depleted on the wings. Carolina can score in bunches, but the Hurricanes favor possession-heavy road structures that use up minutes. Kochetkov’s elite 1.64 season goals-against average makes scoring by New York a tough task. Take the under.