The third game of the regular season for both teams, the San Jose Sharks and the New York Islanders collide at the Barclays Center for a cross-country tilt. NBC Sports California will air the game, and the opening face-off takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Monday, October 8.
San Jose Sharks at New York Islanders Odds
San Jose (+130) is playing the role of underdog to San Jose (-150) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -110 for the over and -110 for the under.
New York is 1-1 straight up (SU) and has netted 0.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked 3rd in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 35-47 record from the 2017-18 season campaign. .
The Islanders have successfully converted on 28.6 percent of their power play chances in 2018-19. That’s a noticeable improvement from last season, when they were ranked seventh in the league by scoring on 23.2 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has gotten stronger year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 73.2 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 31st overall last season) to 100.0 percent this year.
As a collective unit, the Islanders have been called for penalties just 2.5 times per game this season, a number that’s improved from last year’s 3.4 penalties per game they gave up. After serving an average of 7.8 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for only 5.0 minutes per outing this year.
Averaging 32.0 saves per game with a .928 save percentage, Thomas Greiss (1-1) has been the best goalkeeper for New York this season.
Over on the other bench, San Jose is 1-1 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of one of its outings has gone over the total, while an additional one has gone under and none have pushed.
The Sharks have recorded a goal on 0.0 percent of their power play chances this year after successfully converting on 21.1 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (a percentage that was just better than the league average). The team has gone from successfully defending 84.2 percent of opponent power plays (ranked second overall last season) to 75.0 percent in 2018-19.
San Jose’s players have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, a number that’s up a bit from the 3.4 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.3 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 8.0 minutes per matchup this season.
Martin Jones (2.96 goals against average and .829 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for San Jose. Jones is averaging 14.5 saves per game and owns a 1-1 record.
San Jose Sharks vs. New York Islanders Betting Predictions
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
New York was 3-3 in in shootouts last season. San Jose was 5-3 in games that went to a shootout.
San Jose skaters registered 18.4 hits per game last season, while the Islanders logged 22.1 hits per matchup.
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