Stanley Cup Playoffs-Hurricanes at Islanders Game Four Preview and Open Thread

To say this team feels different is an understatement.

This current run the Hurricanes are on is now in its sixth season. Carolina has had impressive runs each season, getting out of the first round in each year but 2020—remember that weird playoff bubble season the sweep of the Rangers was a “qualifying round.” Despite five first round series wins, though, they’ve never had a 3-0 lead in any of them. They went down 0-2 to the Caps in ‘19, the Predators came back to tie it at 2-2 in ‘21, Same with the Bruins in ‘22, and last year the Islanders throttled the Canes in Game 3.

So yes, you’ve noticed a trend that since 2021, the Hurricanes had protected home ice and won the first two games, then…