The Barclays Center will be the site for a divisional showdown as the Pittsburgh Penguins square off against the New York Islanders. The action gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 1, and it can be viewed live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders Odds
Pittsburgh (+130) is entering this one as the underdog to Pittsburgh (-150), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
Earning 4.6 units for moneyline bettors, New York is 6-5 straight up (SU) overall in the 2018-19 season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the Metropolitan Division so far in the early season, is a welcomed improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2017-18 season (35-47). Of its 11 games this season, five have gone under the total, while five have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 1-2 SU at home so far this year.
The Islanders have converted on 23.5 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 78.8 percent of all penalties.
The Islanders, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season, a number that’s swelled some from the 3.4 penalties per game they gave up last year. After serving an average of 7.8 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to kill penalties for a taxing 11.4 minutes per matchup this season.
Sporting a .928 save percentage and 29.6 saves per game, Robin Lehner (4-3-1) has been the most dependable goalkeeper for New York this season. If the Isles, however, choose to rest him, head coach Barry Trotz might turn to Thomas Greiss (4-2-2 record, .933 save percentage, 2.27 goals against average).
Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey will each spearhead the attack for the Islanders. Barzal (12 points) has tallied one goal and 11 assists and has recorded two or more points on three separate occasions this year. Bailey has two goals and 10 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in eight games.
Losing 2.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline, Pittsburgh is 6-4 straight up (SU) overall this year. Through 10 regular season matches, five of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under the total and just one has pushed. The Penguins are 4-1 SU as the road team this season.
The Penguins have scored on 25.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked sixth overall and it’s successfully killed off 86.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Pittsburgh’s players have been penalized only 3.2 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.0, which was the eighth-worst mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.4 penalty minutes per game a year ago (ninth-most in the league), the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for only 6.7 minutes per outing this season.
Matt Murray (3.76 goals against average and .893 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Pittsburgh. Murray is averaging 29.3 saves per game and owns a 4-2 record.
Evgeni Malkin (six goals, 13 assists) has been one of the most vital playmaking threats for the visiting Penguins.
