J-G Pageau is out for game one versus the Carolina Hurricanes

Game one of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs is just minutes away from beginning and it starts with the 2nd seed Carolina Hurricanes and the 3rd seed New York Islanders. In the warmups, game-time decision J-G Pageau was not seen in the line rushes, therefore he will not be suiting up in the crucial matchup in Raleigh.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed the absense of Pageau on twitter.


Tough blow for the Islanders as they are missing one of their most crucial penalty killers for game number one against one of the league's scariest powerplays this season in the Carolina Hurricanes. Here are the projected lineups for the Islanders.




Varlamov also gets the nod for game one in a surprising turn of events, especially given the fact that Ilya Sorokin is their starter on paper. It seems like head coach Patrick Roy is riding the hot wave with Varlamov who has ended the season on a dominant note.

Do not count the Islanders out of this series, despite them playing a powerhouse Hurricanes, their experience should not be underrated.

Playoff hockey is finally underway, Enjoy!