The New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins are ready to clash at PPG Paints Arena in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. NBC Sports Network will showcase the game, which gets going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 16.
New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
New York (+145) is playing the role of underdog to Pittsburgh (-165), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-135 money on the under, +115 on the over).
New York is 51-34 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 21.7 units this year. 52 of its contests have gone under the total, while 28 have gone over and just five have pushed. The Isles are 25-17 SU on the road in 2018-19.
After sporting the third-worst power-play unit in the regular season (converting 14.8 percent of all chances), the Islanders have connected on 20.0 percent of their extra-man advantages in the early stages of this postseason.
The Islanders’ offense attempted 28.9 shots per game in the regular season, resulting in 2.8 goals per contest (ranked 21st overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the team is climbed to an average of 34.3 shots on goal and up to 3.7 goals per game.
Averaging 27.1 saves per game with a .931 save percentage, Robin Lehner (29-20-5) has been the best option in goal for New York this season. If New York decides to rest him, however, the team could turn to Thomas Greiss (26-17-2 record, .927 save percentage, 2.28 goals against average).
On the other side of the ice, Pittsburgh is 44-41 straight up (SU) and has lost 18.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 85 regular season matches, 43 of its games have gone under the total, while 36 have gone over and just six have pushed. This year, the team is 23-19 SU as the home team.
The Penguins have converted on 24.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 19th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all penalties.
Matt Murray has stopped 29.4 shots per game as the top choice in the crease for the Penguins. Murray has 29 wins, 24 losses, and seven overtime losses and has maintained a .918 save percentage and 2.73 goals against average this season.
New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of New York’s last five games.
- Pittsburgh’s attempted 33.3 shots per contest overall this season (the fourth-most in the NHL), and 36.6 in their last five home outings.
- Over New York’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
- This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. New York skaters have given out the eighth-most hits in the league (25.4 per game) and the Penguins have registered the most (29.4).
