Islanders at Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes attempt to extend their home winning streak to four games and maintain their hold on the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference when they host the New York Islanders on Friday. Carolina followed a 5-2-1 homestand with a 5-2 loss at New Jersey on Thursday and sits one point ahead of the Islanders and Columbus.
Jeff Skinner scored for the Hurricanes in the loss, giving him four goals in his last three games and leaving him one shy of 200 for his career. New York blanked the cross-town Rangers 3-0 at home Thursday behind a 50-save performance by Jaroslav Halak to complete a 2-2-0 homestand. Mathew Barzal collected three assists in the triumph to climb within one point of team leader John Tavares (63). The 20-year-old leads all NHL rookies in points and has set up nine goals over his last four games, putting him one assist behind Josh Bailey (47) for first on the Islanders.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), FS Carolinas
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (28-25-6): Defenseman Thomas Hickey helped back Halak's 42nd career shutout Thursday with a goal, which was his 100th NHL point. Jordan Eberle scored his 20th goal of the season in the win over the Rangers, making him the third member of the team to reach the plateau (Tavares and Anders Lee have 29 apiece). The 27-year-old Eberle, who was acquired from Edmonton in June, has recorded 20 goals in five straight campaigns and six of his last seven after netting 18 as a rookie with the Oilers in 2010-11.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (27-22-9): Justin Williams recorded his second consecutive two-assist effort Thursday to raise his season total to 28 - four behind team leader Teuvo Teravainen. The 36-year-old Williams needs two points to reach 40 for the fifth straight campaign and two assists to hit 30 for the seventh time in his 17 NHL seasons. Sebastian Aho had a three-game point streak (two goals, four assists) halted in New Jersey but tops the club with 46 points and is five away from 100 for his career.
OVERTIME
1. The Islanders have allowed a whopping 101 shots over their last two games.
2. Carolina D Jaccob Slavin is riding a four-game point streak during which he has notched a goal and three assists.
3. New York LW Jason Chimera hopes to be back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch Thursday, ending his consecutive games played streak at 245.