The Barclays Center will be hosting a divisional clash as the New York Islanders take on the visiting New York Rangers. It’s the fourth and final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. MSG Network will air the game, and the opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 5.
New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders Odds
The Rangers (+120) are currently the underdogs to the Islanders (-140), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-130 for the over, +110 for the under).
The Rangers are 34-46 straight up (SU) and have lost 10.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 43 of their outings have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just four have pushed. As a road team this season, the Broadway Blueshirts are 13-26 SU.
The Rangers have converted on 21.2 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Additionally, their penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Broadway Blueshirts have been penalized 3.5 times per game overall this season, and 4.2 per game over their past five games. The team has been forced to kill penalties 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .915 save percentage and 29.5 saves per game, Henrik Lundqvist (26-36-7) has been the best option in goal for the Rangers this season. If head coach Alain Vigneault decides to rest him, however, the Rangers may turn to Ondrej Pavelec (5-13-1), who has a .910 save percentage and 3.12 goals against average this year.
Mats Zuccarello and Vladislav Namestnikov will both spearhead the attack for the visitors. Zuccarello (52 points) is up to 16 goals and 36 assists, and has recorded two or more points nine times. Namestnikov has 22 goals and 26 assists to his creditand has notched at least one point in 36 games.
On the other side of the rink, the Isles are 33-47 straight up (SU) and have lost 13.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 80 regular season contests, 49 of their games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just three have pushed. They’re 18-22 SU at home this season.
The Islanders have converted on 23.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 32nd overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 73.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Islanders players have been penalized only 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 4.2 per game over their past ten games. The team has had to defend opponent power plays 8.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Jaroslav Halak (29.2 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for the Islanders. Halak has 19 wins, 34 losses, and six OT losses to his name and has maintained a fairly-weak .906 save percentage and 3.24 goals against average this year.
John Tavares (36 goals, 47 assists) will lead the attack for NY.
New York Rangers at New York Islanders Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Four of the Islanders’ last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 1-3 overall in those games.
Penalties and power plays could be even more key than usual tonight. The Rangers are 11-18 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 22-27 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Islanders are 13-24 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 21-36 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
The Rangers are 3-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Islanders are 3-3 in shootouts.
The over has hit in four of the Islanders’ last five games.
The Islanders have averaged 14.2 giveaways over their last five home games, a rise over their season average of 11.2 giveaways per game (ranked 26th).
New York skaters have averaged 7.6 giveaways over their last five home games, an improvement from their season average of 12.7 giveaways per game (ranked 30th in the NHL).
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