The Islanders played a game on Wednesday night, but not one that mattered. If a tree falls in the forest, etc.
The match against the Penguins served as a necessary evil for both teams before the Islanders could get rolling in preparation for their first-round series against Carolina and before the Penguins could hit the golf courses.
The matchup against the Hurricanes serves as a chance at revenge after Carolina eliminated the Islanders last season and one in which both teams look considerably different than they did a year ago.
That is not just a matter of roster — the Islanders in fact look pretty much the same on that front — but of play style and how both teams have been playing in the latter stages of the regular season. This series does not look quite as straightforward as last year’s did, but the Hurricanes will still come in as favorites.
