The Barclays Center will be the site for an Eastern Conference showdown as the New York Islanders face off against the visiting Boston Bruins. It’s the third and final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 18, and you will be able to catch it live on Sportsnet 360.
Boston Bruins vs. New York Islanders Odds
Boston is 25-18 straight up (SU) and has netted 1.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 43 regular season contests, 21 of its games have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Bruins are 10-9 SU.
Boston has converted on 21.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, it has the seventh-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Bruins have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 3.3 per game over its last ten contests. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.0 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (16-13-4) has been the best option in goal for Boston this season. Rask did just play last night, however, so Boston might opt to rest him and turn to Anton Khudobin instead (9-7-4 record, .924 save percentage, 2.40 goals against average).
The visiting Bruins will be led by Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Marchand has 43 points on 19 goals and 24 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 13 different games. Pastrnak has 18 goals and 22 assists to his creditand has notched a point in 27 games.
New York is 23-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 30 of its matches have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 13-9 SU at home this year.
The Islanders have converted on just 20.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.8 percent of all penalties.
New York players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 4.5 per game over their last ten contests. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Jaroslav Halak has denied 29.3 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Islanders. Halak has 13 wins, 16 losses, and two overtime losses and has maintained a pedestrian 3.22 goals against average and a poor .906 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by John Tavares (24 goals, 30 assists).
Boston Bruins vs. New York Islanders Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Two of Boston’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-2 overall in shootouts this season.
The over has hit in three of New York’s last five outings.
Six of Boston’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 6-0 in those games.
Boston skaters have accounted for the league’s sixth-most hits per game (24.1).
