Carolina’s +24 Differential Puts Islanders’ Defense to the Test

Thursday, Nov. 5, at UBS Arena, the Islanders face a steep standings test: Carolina brings 26 points and a 12-3-2 record, compared with New York’s 16 points and 7-5-2 mark. Both teams enter off a loss, but Carolina has won four of its last five while New York has dropped three of five. The matchup centers on Carolina’s attack—Sebastian Aho has 21 points and Jackson Blake 17—against Islanders leaders Bo Horvat and Matthew Schaefer, who have 14 apiece. Carolina’s No. 2 power-index ranking, +24 goal differential and +10.6 shots-on-goal differential per game make New York’s ability to stem the pressure the deciding factor.