How to watch the Islanders in the First Round of the NHL Playoffs

The New York Islanders didn’t let a few bad stretches discourage them, and they now find themselves in the NHL Playoffs against a rather familiar opponent. New York would love to even the score this postseason, and if so, this might be the team even the Eastern Conference’s division winners would rather stay away from. 

If you’re hoping to see the Islanders continue their unprecedented run, or if you’re just pulling for this hard-hitting team, keep reading for all the information you will need on who they’re playing, how to watch, and more. 

Who are the Islanders facing off against in Round 1?

The Islanders won’t have it easy in Round 1 as they are facing the high-scoring Carolina Hurricanes. Unlike the Isles, Carolina was a far more consistent team, but the question is whether the Hurricanes can handle arguably the NHL’s most physical team in a four-to-seven-game series. 

When are the Islanders scheduled to play?

The Isles and Canes will kickoff their rematch on Saturday, April 20th at 5:00 PM, and Games 2 through 7 (if necessary) will occur on:

• Game 2: Monday, April 22nd at 7:30 PM
• Game 3: Thursday, April 25th at 7:30 PM
• Game 4: Saturday, April 27th at 2:00 PM
• Game 5: Tuesday, April 30th TBD
• Game 6: Thursday, May 2nd TBD
• Game 7: Saturday, May 4th TBD

How to watch the Islanders in the playoffs this season?

You can find truTV, MAX, and TBS broadcasting Game 1 if you’re in the US, or TVAS, SN360, SNE, SNW, or SNP covering the action in Canada. As for Games 2 through 7, find them on the following networks:

• Game 2: ESPN2, TVAS, SN360
• Game 3: ESPN2, TVAS, SN360
• Game 4: TVAS, SN, MAX, truTV, TBS
• Game 5: TBD
• Game 6: TBD
• Game 7: TBD

If you like streaming games, fuboTV will let you access every matchup. 

“fuboTV has live NHL games on ESPN, which you can stream from your phone, television, and all your favorite devices. This is a service that broadcasts live TV over the internet, no cable is required. Watch your favorite teams, network shows, news, and movies on over 100+ channels. Plus on-demand entertainment including full TV series. fuboTV is currently available in the United States, Canada, and Spain.”

What to look for in the rematch from last season?

Avenging what happened last year is the Isles top priority, but this team would also like to keep their winning ways going. Remember, the Isles were virtually out of this thing, but a sense of urgency led to an 8-1-1 run, turning them into one of the league’s hottest teams as the regular season reached its conclusion. 

Carolina is the better team on paper, but the Isles may be peaking at the right moment. If that’s the case, expect New York to give the Hurricanes all they can handle. 

(Season data provided by Hockey-Reference)