The Barclays Center plays host to a divisional clash as the Washington Capitals take on the New York Islanders. Sportsnet 360 will showcase the game, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 15.
Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders Odds
Washington (-140) is currently favored over New York (+120) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -120 money on the over and +100 on the under.
Washington is 39-30 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 4.4 units this season. Through 69 regular season contests, 38 of its games have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Capitals team is 15-19 SU on the road.
Washington has converted on 21.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of its penalties.
The Caps, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.1 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 2.2 per game over its last five contests. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 4.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 27.7 saves per game with a .907 save percentage, Braden Holtby (29-19-4) has been the top option in goal for Washington this year. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, the team could roll with Philipp Grubauer (10-18-3 record, .926 save percentage, 2.23 goals against average).
Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Capitals. Ovechkin has 74 points on 42 goals and 32 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 19 different games. Kuznetsov has 21 goals and 45 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 40 games).
On the other side of the rink, New York is 30-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 69 regular season outings, 41 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and just three have pushed. It’s 16-16 SU as the home team this year.
The Islanders have converted on just 20.6 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Islanders skaters have been sent to the penalty box only 3.3 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their past ten contests. The team has had to kill penalties just 5.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jaroslav Halak has denied 30.1 shots per game as the top option in goal for the Islanders. Halak has 18 wins, 29 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has recorded a subpar .908 save percentage and 3.23 goals against average this year.
John Tavares (31 goals, 38 assists) and Mathew Barzal (18 goals, 51 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Islanders.
Washington Capitals at New York Islanders Betting Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Islanders, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Power-play opportunities may be key tonight. The Capitals are 13-8 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 22-15 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Islanders are 11-21 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 19-30 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Two of New York’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 3-3 overall in shootouts this season.
Washington might hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 17-12 in one-goal games, while New York is 12-17 in such games.
The over has hit in three of New York’s last five games.
New York is ranked 26th this season with 11.1 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as it’s averaged 8.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 9.0 giveaways over its last five.
Washington skaters have averaged 10.4 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 11.0 giveaways per game (ranked 25th in the NHL).
This game features a couple of the more aggressive teams in the league. Washington skaters have accounted for the league’s 12th-most hits per game (22.2) and the Islanders have registered the 10th-most (22.8).
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