The Pittsburgh Penguins look to even the series at one game apiece at Nassau Coliseum in Game 2 of the postseason’s first round. NBC Sports Network will showcase the matchup, and the action gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, April 12.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders Odds
New York (+110) is playing the role of underdog to Pittsburgh (-130), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-120 for the under, +100 for the over).
New York is 49-34 straight-up (SU) and has netted 18.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league in this young season, is a remarkable improvement over the 35-47 record from the 2017-18 season campaign. 50 of its 83 contests have gone under the total, while 28 have gone over and just five have pushed. The team’s 25-17 SU at home this season.
The Islanders have converted on just 14.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 29th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.3 percent of all penalties.
Boasting a .930 save percentage and 27.0 saves per game, Robin Lehner (27-20-5) has been the best option in goal for New York this season. If the Isles choose to give him the evening off, however, the team might go with Thomas Greiss (26-17-17 record, .927 save percentage, 2.28 goals against average).
Over on the other bench, Pittsburgh is 44-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 83 regular season matches, 41 of its games have gone under the total, while 36 have gone over and just six have pushed. The Penguins are 21-21 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Penguins have scored on 24.7 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Matt Murray (.918 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Pittsburgh. Murray is averaging 29.3 saves per game and owns a 29-22-7 record.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Six of New York’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 4-2 overall in those games.
- Power plays and penalty kills may have a key role in this matchup. The Penguins are 15-17 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 35-25 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Islanders are 19-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 37-23 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Two of Pittsburgh’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- New York could hold an advantage if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 20-13 in games decided by one goal, while Pittsburgh is 14-18 in such games.
- For both of these teams, the game went under the total in three of their past five matchups.
- Pittsburgh is ranked 15th this season with 10.2 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as it’s averaged 13.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 14.0 giveaways over its last five.
- New York is ranked 21st this season with 11.7 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed lately, as the team’s averaged 16.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 19.2 giveaways over its last five.
- This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the league’s most hits per game (29.0) while the Isles have recorded the eighth-most (25.0).
