Hurricanes Aim to Extend Playoff Spot Against Struggling Islanders

Carolina looks to solidify top seed in Eastern Conference with home matchup against New York

Apr. 4, 2026 at 3:40pm

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The Carolina Hurricanes have clinched a playoff spot and are now focused on securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They'll host the struggling New York Islanders, who are teetering on the playoff bubble, in a key Metropolitan Division matchup on Saturday night.

Why it matters

With the playoffs approaching, this game is crucial for both teams' postseason positioning. The Hurricanes want to maintain their lead atop the division, while the Islanders are fighting to stay in the playoff picture during a three-game losing streak.

The details

The Hurricanes (48-21-6, 102 points) clinched a playoff spot with a 5-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. They're led by captain Jordan Staal, who played in his 1,400th career game. The Islanders (42-30-5, 89 points) are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday and have been outscored 16-7 during their current three-game skid.

  • The Hurricanes clinched a playoff spot on Thursday, April 3, 2026.
  • The Hurricanes and Islanders will face off on Saturday, April 5, 2026.
  • The Hurricanes and Islanders will meet again in the regular season finale on April 14, 2026.

The players

Rod Brind'Amour

Head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, who has led the team to the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons.

Sebastian Aho

Star center for the Carolina Hurricanes, who is looking to help the team secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Jordan Staal

Captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, who recently played in his 1,400th career NHL game.

Patrick Roy

Head coach of the New York Islanders, who is trying to keep his team in the playoff race despite their recent struggles.

Ilya Sorokin

Goaltender for the New York Islanders, who has started the last 10 games for the team.

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What they’re saying

“There hasn't been that many downs, to be quite honest. We've played pretty consistently throughout this year, and I think that shows.”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Head Coach, Carolina Hurricanes

“Everybody is watching every game. Everybody is watching the standings. At the end of the day, it's about what you do. … If you start thinking about what's happening around you, this is where problems start.”

— Patrick Roy, Head Coach, New York Islanders

“There's always room to improve, and hopefully we can keep it going and be even better coming down the stretch.”

— Sebastian Aho, Center, Carolina Hurricanes

What’s next

The Hurricanes and Islanders will meet again in the regular season finale on April 14, 2026, with playoff positioning potentially on the line.

The takeaway

This game is a crucial matchup between two Metropolitan Division rivals with different goals - the Hurricanes are looking to solidify their position atop the conference, while the Islanders are fighting to stay in the playoff picture. The outcome could have major implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.