Penguins vs Islanders: Preview & Betting Trends | Feb 17 Game

Odds

2021-2022 season stats

Preview

The New York Islanders will be lacing up their skates on home ice once again, this time taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins in a Friday night showdown at the UBS Arena. These two teams have already crossed paths earlier this season at New York's home rink, where the Islanders put on a clinic and sent the Penguins packing with a final score of 5-1. Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee both lit the lamp twice, while Josh Bailey contributed a goal and an assist. Hudson Fasching and Brock Nelson also made their presence felt with two assists apiece. In net, Ilya Sorokin put on a masterful performance, turning away 19 shots en route to his 100th NHL appearance. With both teams hungry for a win, it's sure to be a thrilling clash between these Eastern Conference powerhouses. 

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are making waves in the NHL this season with an impressive offensive showing that has seen them average 3.23 goals per game. The dynamic trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jake Guentzel have been leading the charge, combining for an impressive 66 goals and 102 assists between them. However, it's not just the top two lines that are contributing, as the second unit consisting of Jason Zucker, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell have also been lighting the lamp, racking up a combined 45 goals and 45 assists.

The Penguins' offensive firepower doesn't stop there, as defensemen Kris Letang and Jeff Petry have been making their presence felt from the point. They have tallied a total of eight goals and 30 assists, using their offensive prowess to open up opportunities for the forwards. It's clear that the Penguins are not lacking in scoring depth, with contributions coming from all over the lineup.

However, the Penguins' defensive play has been a cause for concern. They have been allowing an average of 3.08 goals per game, struggling to keep opposing teams off the scoreboard. While defensemen Marcus Pettersson and Brian Dumoulin have been solid, combining for 4.6 defensive point shares, the rest of the unit has struggled to contain their opponents. This has led to teams finding open shots on the net with ease.

Despite the defensive struggles, one bright spot for the Penguins has been the play of goaltender Casey DeSmith. He has faced 836 shots this season, posting a .907 save percentage and a 3.21 goals-against average. DeSmith has been a reliable presence between the pipes and has kept the Penguins in many games.

As the season progresses, the Penguins will need to tighten up their defensive play to stay competitive in a tough Eastern Conference. With their potent offensive attack and solid goaltending, they have the potential to make a deep playoff run.

In their last 10 games the Penguins are 5-5, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.6 penalties and 11.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.

New York Islanders

As the NHL season heats up, the New York Islanders find themselves in a challenging situation. Their offense has been struggling, averaging only 2.88 goals per game and scoring just five goals in their last two games. While Brock Nelson, Mathew Barzal, and Anders Lee have been leading the charge with a combined 55 goals and 82 assists, the rest of the offense has failed to contribute. Only six skaters have managed to score 10 goals or more, leaving the team's offense looking top-heavy and vulnerable to being shut down by opposing teams.

However, the Islanders' defensive unit has stepped up to fill the void left by their struggling offense. They have allowed only 2.70 goals per game, one of the lowest in the league. Defensemen Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech have been key contributors, combining for 5.8 defensive point shares and an impressive 152 blocked shots. Meanwhile, Scott Mayfield, Alexander Romanov, and Sebastian Aho have added depth to the defensive unit, contributing a combined 8.1 defensive point shares.

One of the brightest spots for the Islanders this season has been their goaltender Ilya Sorokin. He has been outstanding in the net, with a remarkable .923 save percentage and a 2.40 goals-against average on 1224 shots. Sorokin's contributions have been vital to the Islanders' defensive success this season, as he has saved an impressive 21.3 goals above average.

Despite their struggles on the offensive end, the Islanders have remained competitive in the Eastern Conference thanks to their strong defensive play and exceptional goaltending. If they can get their offense firing on all cylinders, they have the potential to make a deep playoff run. As the season progresses, the Islanders will need to find a way to get their offense going, while continuing to rely on their reliable defensive unit and exceptional goaltending.

In their last 10 games the Islanders are 4-6, averaging 2.5 goals, 7.2 assists, 5.1 penalties and 12.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.

BETTING TRENDS

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Pittsburgh's last 9 games.

Pittsburgh are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games against NY Islanders.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games on the road.

Pittsburgh are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders.

Pittsburgh are 2-9 SU in their last 11 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference conference.

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of NY Islanders' last 8 games.

NY Islanders are 5-13 SU in their last 18 games.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Islanders' last 5 games against Pittsburgh.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Islanders' last 5 games at home.

Prediction

The New York Islanders have had a bit of a tough stretch recently, as they've dropped their last two games in overtime or shootouts. Despite those setbacks, the Islanders still have a strong record at home and they've already proven they can beat the Pittsburgh Penguins on their home ice this season. On the other hand, the Penguins have won three of their last four games, but they've had trouble against Eastern Conference teams and have been a poor bet as underdogs with a 1-10-2 record. Given these factors, it's hard to have confidence in the Penguins for this game. All things considered, the smart money is on the Islanders to come away with a victory at home.

PICK: Islanders ML (-111) 

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