Islanders vs. Hurricanes NHL20 simulation: Winning down the stretch

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: Brock McGinn #23 of the Carolina Hurricanes hits Thomas Hickey #4 of the New York Islanders into the boards during the third period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 28, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Hurricanes defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: Brock McGinn #23 of the Carolina Hurricanes hits Thomas Hickey #4 of the New York Islanders into the boards during the third period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 28, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Hurricanes defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The New York Islanders were scheduled to play the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, using NHL20 we simulated the matchup. Here’s what happened in a 3-2 win.

With wins over the Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and most recently the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders are back to winning ways and getting hot at exactly the right time. Just before the playoffs.

With a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, the Islanders improve to 4-1-0 in our simulations. While the offense isn’t running rampant in this one, three goals were enough to get both points over a divisional rival who was neck-and-neck with the Isles in the standings before the season was put on hold.

Again, I want to thank contributor Ryan Grosso for running this simulation for us.

(If you run simulations of your own hit us up with your results via Twitter.)

Another Game, Another Win

With a strong first period, the Islanders were able to get a 2-1 lead. Nick Leddy opened the scoring before Derick Brassard would get one on the power play. Andrei Svechnikov would nab one for Carolina.

The Hurricanes upped the pressure in the second period with 12 shots on goal to the Islanders five. Thankfully, Semyon Varlamov stood tall and stopped all 12. Leo Komarov would put the Isles up 3-1 to the frustration of Caniacs everywhere.

The Hurricanes would put up a strong effort for the second period in a row by getting 14 shots on goal. Vincent Trocheck would score to make it 3-2 at 16:57, but the Canes couldn’t find another opening on Semyon Varlamov as the bleu and orange claimed their fourth victory in a row.

Other Sims

EA ran their own simulation and they came up with the same scoreline that Ryan got with his simulation.

https://twitter.com/EASPORTSNHL/status/1241827942767849472

Winners and Losers

Winners

Semyon Varlamov: 0.943SV%, 2GA, 33 Saves
Leo Komarov: 1 Goal, Game Winner
Derick Brassard: 1 Goal

A big game from Semyon Varlamov kept the Islanders on winning ways. Again, that second period saw the Hurricanes just completely decimate the Isles on the shot clock with a +7 shot differential.

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Losers

James Reimer: 0.893SV%, 3GA, 25 Saves
Andrew Ladd: 9:37 Ice-Time, -2
Teuvo Teravainen: 4 Shots, 0 Points, -1

Andrew Ladd was one of only two players, for both teams, to finish with a -2 plus-minus rating. The other play was Leo Komarov who picked up the game-winner.