Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at games happening and gives our predictions. Our staff analyze, break down head-to-head matchups, and explore other factors that will determine the outcomes of the night’s games. For this installment, we will be making predictions on the New York Islanders Vs the New Jersey Devils.
NHL Predictions
New York Islanders Vs New Jersey Devils
Time: 7:00 P.M Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Tv: MSGSN, MSGSN2
This matchup features two metropolitan division rivals going head-to-head. It will be the first of three meetings between the two teams. These two faced each other four times last season with the Devils winning three of the four matchups. The Islanders will be on the road in New Jersey at the Prudential Center for this one. In the early going so far, the Islanders hold a record of 2-2-2 and the Devils are 5-4-1.
The Islanders Story
It has been a slow start to the season for the Islander offence. They are coming off a frustrating 1-0 loss at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings. In a game where the Islanders outshot Detroit 30 to 11. This marks the third time in the first six games that they have been shut out. The first time that this has happened in the franchise’s history. Generating offence won’t get any easier with the new news that Anthony Duclair will now miss 4-6 weeks with his lower-body injury. The Islanders rank 30th in goals per game at 2.17. One reason for these offensive struggles has been the lack of an effective power play which is 2-19 on the season. That has them ranked 27th in the league. Head coach Patrick Roy has now separated Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat on the power play in hopes of sparking something.
Two areas that the Islanders have had success in are their defence and goaltending. The Islanders rank fifth in goals against per game with 2.50. They also rank first in shots against per game with 25.33. Coupled with these good defensive numbers are good goaltending numbers as well. Ilya Sorokin has a record of 1-1-1 with a 1.34 GAA and .947 SV%. Sorokin has been in net for two 1-0 losses this season, one against the St. Louis Blues and the other against Detroit Tuesday night. Semyon Varlamov has a record of 1-1-1 with a 3.27 GAA and .868 SV%. With this being the first of a back-to-back expect Varlamov in net Friday night and Sorokin on Saturday.
The Devils Story
This will be a second of a back-to-back for the Devils. They lost 5-3 Thursday night against the Red Wings. In eight of their first 10 games, they have scored three goals or more. That has them ranked seventh in goals for per game at 3.50. Led by Nico Hischier and Timo Meier on the top line who have both been point-per-game players with 10 in 10 games. Followed by a young superstar in Jack Hughes on the second line who has nine points in 10 games. Even Stefan Noesen down on the third line is tied for second in points with nine in 10 games. The Devils can get production from three lines so the Islanders defence will be tested. They can score 5v5 and on the power play as well. Their power play ranks well at fifth in the league in percentage at 29.7.
Every team has their weakness and the offence is great. However, the defence and goaltending is not. They rank 16th in goals against per game at 3.11. While ranking 24th in shots against per game with 27.90. Just like the defence, their goalies leave something to be desired. Jacob Markstrom has a record of 3-3-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .891 SV%. Jake Allen has a record of 2-1-0 with a 3.01 GAA and .880 SV%. Allen will most likely get the start after Markstrom played the first game. In most of their games, the Devils have relied on simply just outscoring their opponents in order to win. That doesn’t always work as they have had two games scoring five goals and still lost. They had a 6-5 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals last Saturday. Along with an 8-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
Prediction
This game will come down to the Islanders defence trying to slow down the Devils offence. New Jersey can light it up on any given night. While the Islanders have done a good job at limiting their opponents’ scoring chances. The Devils are on the second game of a back-to-back and the Islanders should be rested having not played since Tuesday. We feel that gives the edge to New York who we think will pull off the upset in New Jersey.
Prediction: Islanders win 3-2
Prop Bets of the Night
On Fanduel, the Islanders are +136 on the money line and we feel those are good odds. The over/under is set at 6.5. With the Devils players being tired from their back-to-back, they will not be able to generate the offence we’re used to seeing. Combine that with the Islanders inability to score and this should be a low-scoring contest, take the under. As far as any time goal scores, Brock Nelson is +200 and due to score as Brocktober comes to a close. For the Devils Jesper Bratt is +200 and only has one goal in the 10 games, he is due to score one.
Main Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: Oct. 25 New York Islanders Vs New Jersey Devils appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.