Hurricanes vs Islanders Prediction and SOG Pick for November 5

Our Hurricanes vs Islanders prediction starts in the crease, where both clubs have yet to name a starter for Thursday night on Long Island. Carolina arrives as the NHL points leader and a -177 road favorite, while New York sits at +153 with the total parked at 6.0. The Hurricanes are coming off a rare loss in Nashville. The Islanders have not played since Halloween. Below, we break down the goaltending, the injury picture and the shot data before landing on two plays.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders Betting Preview

Neither team had announced a starting goaltender as of Thursday morning, so this read is provisional. Pyotr Kochetkov is the projected Carolina starter. He opened the season with 10 straight wins, a franchise record, and sits at 10-1-0 with a 1.64 GAA and a .922 save percentage. However, Tuesday’s loss in Nashville was his fifth straight start, and the Hurricanes have floated Brandon Bussi as an option. Bussi has struggled, with an .865 save percentage and a 3.27 GAA, per ESPN. That gap is the single largest swing in this game.

For New York, Ilya Sorokin is the projected starter at 6-4-0 with a 2.41 GAA and a .911 save percentage. Semyon Varlamov, the alternative, carries a .891 mark. Sorokin is the clear upgrade, and he gives the Islanders a puncher’s chance in a low-scoring game.

The market has barely flinched at the goaltending question. Carolina opened at -172 on the moneyline and sits at -177 now. The puck line moved from +155 to +153 on the Hurricanes’ side. Meanwhile, the total has held at 6.0, with the under at -120 the entire way. That stability suggests the books see the crease uncertainty as already priced. At -177, the moneyline implies Carolina wins about 63.9% of the time. The under at -120 implies roughly 54.5%, before accounting for a push at exactly six goals.

The skaters tilt toward Carolina. Carolina sits first in the Metropolitan Division at 12-3-2 with 26 points, the most in the league. Sebastian Aho leads the club with 21 points. Logan Stankoven has 10 goals. The Hurricanes are 7-2-1 on the road. Still, they are without captain Jordan Staal, who is on injured reserve with a torn calf. Taylor Hall has missed nine games with an upper-body injury, and his return was still undecided.

The Islanders are 7-5-2 with 16 points, tied for fourth in the Metro. Their defense has held up, allowing 2.71 goals per game. Meanwhile, the offense has stalled at 2.79 goals per game, and the power play converts just 15.9%. The injury list makes that harder. Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock and Matias Maccelli are not expected to play. New York was shut out 4-0 by Edmonton in its last game. This is the first of four meetings between the clubs this season.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders Odds

Odds accurate as of November 5, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NHL Odds – Futures – Props

Hurricanes vs. Islanders Prediction — The Shot Volume Behind Carolina’s 10-Goal Center

Stankoven’s goal total is not a hot-shooting fluke. He has 52 shots on goal through 17 games, which works out to just over three per night. More importantly, the volume has been steady. He reached three or more shots in eight of his last nine games, including three in Tuesday’s loss. He has also scored in three of his last five games, so the shots are turning into finishes. Carolina’s overall shot profile backs that up. The Hurricanes average 33.1 shots per game, per ESPN, while the Islanders allow 26.1.

The price matters here. A +120 number implies a break-even rate of about 45.5%. A player averaging just over three shots should clear a three-shot bar more often than that. In addition, this is a player prop, so it does not depend on who starts in either net. That insulation is the main reason it rates ahead of the side.

Still, the risks are real. New York has allowed just 2.71 goals per game, so its defense is not a soft target. A lopsided Carolina lead would also shrink ice time for the top six late. Finally, there is no line history on props, so there is no market confirmation either way. The read rests on volume alone.

The Pick: Logan Stankoven 3+ Shots on Goal (+120)

Hurricanes vs. Islanders Prediction — Can Long Island Score Without Barzal and Pulock?

The case for Carolina starts with the Islanders’ attack. New York has struggled to generate offense even with a full lineup. Now it is without Barzal at center and Pulock on the blue line. The Islanders managed just 18 shots against Edmonton in that 4-0 loss. Facing a Carolina team that allows 22.4 shots per game, per ESPN, scoring chances could be scarce again. Moreover, the market has drifted slightly toward Carolina, from -172 at the open to -177 now.

On the other side, the price is steep. At -177, Carolina needs to win about 63.9% of the time to break even. Sorokin is capable of stealing a game, and the Islanders are rested after four days off. The bigger concern is the Carolina crease. A Kochetkov start makes this a strong spot. A Bussi start narrows the edge considerably. Treat this pick as provisional until the starter is confirmed. Also note that this is the full-game moneyline, which includes overtime and the shootout. That matters, because the Islanders’ best path to an upset is a tight game that reaches extra time and becomes closer to a coin flip.

The Pick: Hurricanes Moneyline (-177)

Our Final Word on Hurricanes vs. Islanders

The total of 6.0 is tempting from both directions, which is a reason to stay away. The Islanders’ weak power play and Sorokin argue for a quieter game. In contrast, Carolina’s scoring depth and a possible Bussi start argue for more goals. With the under already priced at -120 and a push in play, there is no clean third edge. The puck line at +153 also asks a lot against a defense that has kept games close.

We have also covered Carolina recently in our Jets vs. Hurricanes prediction, and the rest of the league slate in pieces such as our Blackhawks vs. Panthers prediction.

Logan Stankoven 3+ Shots on Goal at +120 is our top play because he has topped three shots in eight of his last nine games. Hurricanes Moneyline at -177 is the second play because a depleted Islanders attack faces the NHL’s top team, provided Kochetkov starts.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders — Game Info