Penguins vs. Islanders Pick
Are the Pittsburgh Penguins the smart play for bettors tonight when they take on the host New York Islanders at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Islanders are a -115 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Penguins are a -105 underdog, while the total is set at 6 goals.
Pittsburgh enters with a 20-19-2-1 record after a 4-0 home loss Thursday against the Hurricanes. New York is 20-17-3-1 following a 6-4 loss Thursday at the Flyers. The Penguins won the first meeting 4-3 at home in a shootout on Dec. 7. Pittsburgh is 3-2 in five meetings since the start of last season. The over is 4-1.
In the loss to Carolina, Patric Hornqvist and Daniel Sprong led the offense with three shots apiece. Matt Murray made 29 saves on 33 shots between the pipes to take the loss. The Hurricanes scored twice in the second period and added two more in the third.
New York was paced by Cal Clutterback with two goals in the loss to Philadelphia. Ryan Pulock and John Tavares added a goal each. Nick Leddy and Dennis Seidenberg both dished out two assists. Thomas Greiss recorded 26 saves on 31 shots to take the loss. The score was tied 1-1 through one period, but the Flyers scored four in the second to grab a commanding 5-2 advantage.
Pittsburgh is 37-17 in the last 54 meetings. The over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
The Penguins looked dreadful in their last game at home, while New York is also coming off a lbad loss but at least made it reasonably interesting in the third period. The revenge narrative is in play here after Pittsburgh won in a shootout last month. I say take the Islanders to get the job done on their home ice.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: NEW YORK ISLANDERS -115