The NHL only has two games going tonight. The Islanders take on the Lightning and the Red Wings travel to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets.
New York Islanders @ Tampa Bay Lightning
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- TV Coverage: Sportsnet, MSG+
- New York Islanders: 5-4-2, 8th Metropolitan (5-4-2 Away)
- Tampa Bay Lightning: 7-3-3, 4th Atlantic (4-1-1 Home)
| Opening ML | Current ML | Spread | Total | |
| New York Islanders | +115 | +115 | +1.5 (-220) | o5.5 (+115) |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | -135 | -135 | -1.5 (+180) | u5.5 (-135) |
These two teams know each other very well as they have met in the Eastern Conference finals the past two years. The Lightning have bested them in both of those series in route to back to back Stanley Cup victories.
The Islanders travel to Tampa for game 12 of their unprecedented 13 game season-opening road trip. They’ll take on the Panthers tomorrow night before heading home and having a few days off. New York is coming off back to back loss against Minnesota and New Jersey. They faced the Devils last week Thursday getting shutout on the road 4-0. However, they’ve had a three days off since then and look to make a strong push here against a team that’s had their number in the past.
They haven’t had a great start to the season as they sit in the basement of the Metropolitan division. The biggest issue this team has is their inability to generate and capitalize on scoring opportunities. They are dead last in high danger scoring chances and third to last in expected goals for (23.12).
Despite their offensive struggles, they have been great on defense allowing the sixth least goals per game (2.55). The Isles have a -5.05 goals against above expected which ranks near the top of the league in terms of team defenses. Ilya Sorokin is expected to get the start in net tonight posting a +5.3 GSAx on the year.
Tampa Bay has turned things around after their up and down start to the season. They have won five of their last seven games coming into tonight. On Saturday they defeated the Panthers in OT 3-2, behind a stellar performance from Vasilevskiy.
As I mentioned before, the Bolts struggled early, specifically at home but, have been much better as of late. They have are tied with the fourteenth most goals per game (3.0) despite Nikita Kucherov’s absence. Captain Steven Stamkos leads the team in points with 15 after struggling with injuries the past few years. Their Power Play continues to be mediocre without Kucherov up top. They haven’t been as potent as the Tampa Bay teams of past on offense this year.
The Lightning are also giving up the seventeenth most goals per game (2.92). Tampa’s defense has always been their weakest part and continue to be middle of the road. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been confirmed as the starter tonight. He seems to have found his footing after a rough start to the season with a +5.7 GSAx.
PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (-135)
This should be a low scoring affair tonight in Tampa given the offensive struggles both teams have had. Sorokin and Vasilevskiy have been playing well as of late however, both offenses do have the ability to randomly get hot so the total is a stay away for me. The Bolts have been great at home as of late and seem to be hitting their stride. I’m taking Tampa at home tonight in a close one.
Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.
