The Prudential Center will be the site for a Metropolitan Division showdown as the New Jersey Devils take on the visiting New York Islanders. MSG Network will air the game, and the action gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 24.
New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils Odds
New York (+115) is entering this one as the underdog to New Jersey (-135), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 7 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
New Jersey is 31-30 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 4.8 units this season. That early-season winning percentage is a surprising turnaround from how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (28-54). Of its 61 games this season, 32 have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 16-15 SU at home this season.
The Devils have converted on 19.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.1 percent of all penalties.
The Devils, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five matchups at home. The team has had to defend opponent power plays for just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
With a .913 save percentage and 28.9 saves per game, Cory Schneider (18-17-6) has been the primary goalkeeper for New Jersey this year. If New Jersey decides to give him the night off, however, head coach John Hynes may turn to Keith Kinkaid (13-11-11 record, .897 save percentage, 3.12 goals against average).
The Devils will continue seeking leadership out of Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier. Hall (64 points) has tallied 26 goals and 38 assists and has recorded multiple points in 18 different games this year. Hischier has 13 goals and 27 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 29 contests.
New York is 29-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 62 regular season matches, 38 of its games have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and just three have pushed. The Islanders are 13-18 SU as the road team this season.
The Islanders have scored on 21.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 74.4 percent of all penalties.
New York’s skaters have been penalized only 3.4 times per game this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jaroslav Halak (3.20 goals against average and .911 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for New York. Halak is averaging 30.8 saves per game and owns an 18-25-5 record.
Mathew Barzal (17 goals, 48 assists) has been one of the primary offensive facilitators for the visiting Islanders.
New York Islanders vs. New Jersey Devils Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- New Jersey is 4-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while New York is 3-2 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in three of New York’s last five games.
- New York has managed 27.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while New Jersey has been attempting 32.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Over New Jersey’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
