3 Keys to the NY Islanders Beating the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 1

Continued Success from the Middle-6 Forwards

There's little doubt that Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat will be on their game come Game 1 as they have all season, but the secondary forwards need to continue their current run of form.

Kyle Palmieri has been the Islanders MVP over the second half of the season, scoring 15 goals over the last 23 games, joining Horvat and Brock Nelson as 30-goal scorers. Over his four seasons in blue and orange, Palmieri has been wildly inconsistent but is playing some of the best hockey of his career right now. He'll have to be an integral part if the Islanders are to have any success in the postseason.

Few forwards on this team have been criticized as much as Pierre Engvall this season, mostly due to the 7-year extension he signed in the off-season.

His numbers have been wildly unimpressive this season scoring just 10 goals and adding 18 assists, but has found his groove over the last six games, scoring once and adding four assists. He's been much more noticeable on the ice, using his speed to create and cause havoc on the forecheck.

Engvall's speed is his greatest asset and he'll need to have it on full display against the feisty Hurricanes.