The Islanders may not know whom they’re playing yet, but at least they know when.
The NHL announced two scenarios for the second-round schedules, one based on the Capitals winning Game 7 on Wednesday night, and one based on the Hurricanes winning. The victor of that series goes on to face the Islanders, who swept the Penguins in the first round and have been sitting around since their Game 4 triumph April 16.
The first game of this second-round series will be Friday and the second game Sunday — if the Capitals win, then they’re in Washington; if the Hurricanes win, they’re at Barclays Center, where all the Islanders’ home games will be played from here on out following a raucous first round at the Coliseum.
If the opponent is the Capitals, then the teams would come back for Games 3 and 4 in Brooklyn on Tuesday and Friday. If it’s the Hurricanes, then it would be Wednesday and Friday in Raleigh.