The Barclays Center will be hosting an Eastern Conference showdown as the New York Islanders square off against the visiting Ottawa Senators. The matchup gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, December 1, and you’ll be able to catch the game live on MSG Network.
Ottawa Senators vs. New York Islanders Odds
New York heads into the contest as the heavy favorite with a -145 moneyline. The line for Ottawa sits at +125 and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-125 over, +105 under).
New York is 15-9 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 6.8 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked fifth in the league so far in this young season, is a solid improvement compared to how the team performed during last year’s regular season (41-41). Of the team’s 24 games this season, 15 have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 8-2 SU at home this year.
The Islanders have converted on 21.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 21st overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Islanders have been penalized just 3.6 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 30.3 saves per game with a .903 save percentage, Thomas Greiss (8-4-2) has been the best option in goal for New York this year. If the Isles choose to rest him, however, head coach Doug Weight might roll with Jaroslav Halak (7-6-6 record, .904 save percentage, 2.88 goals against average).
The Isles will continue looking for offensive production via Josh Bailey and John Tavares. Bailey (28 points) has produced five goals and 23 assists and has recorded two or more points on nine different occasions this year. Tavares has 16 goals and 12 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 12 contests.
On the other bench, Ottawa is 8-15 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. A total of 13 of its outings have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and none have pushed. As an away team so far, the Senators are 4-5 SU.
The Senators have converted on just 15.7 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 28th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa’s skaters have been penalized only 3.5 times per game this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (.895 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Ottawa. Anderson is averaging 24.2 saves per game and has seven wins, 11 losses, and three OT losses to his credit.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Senators will be Mark Stone (14 goals, 10 assists) and Mike Hoffman (eight goals, 11 assists).
Ottawa Senators vs. New York Islanders Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Islanders, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Six of New York’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 4-2 overall in those games.
Ottawa has scored 3.0 goals per game as a team this season, but is averaging 1.3 goals per matchup over its seven-game losing skid.
Power plays and penalty kills may have a key role in tonight’s matchup. The Senators are 4-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 5-10 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Islanders are 7-4 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 9-6 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Ottawa (1-4 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. New York has only participated in two shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
The over has hit in three of New York’s last five outings.
New York is scoring 3.7 goals per game over its four-game win streak.
New York is ranked 24th this season with 11.1 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed recently, as it’s averaged 12.3 giveaways over its last 10 games and 14.0 giveaways over its last five.
Ottawa skaters have averaged 7.4 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 10.0 giveaways per game (ranked 19th overall).
Ottawa skaters have dished out the ninth-most hits in the league (22.7 per game).
