Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face off against Brock Nelson, Mathew Barzal, and the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center for a Metropolitan Division showdown. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will showcase the matchup, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 21.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders Odds
The Islanders (-140) are being picked as the favorites over the Penguins (+120) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
New York is 15-4 straight-up (SU) and has netted 10.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the league’s strongest so far this season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team did during the 2018-19 season (48-34). Through 19 regular season matches, 10 of its games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and none have pushed. Thus far, the team is 9-3 SU at home.
The Islanders have converted on 22.2 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 17th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
Sporting a .938 save percentage and 28.7 saves per game, Thomas Greiss (8-2) has been the best goalkeeper for New York this year. If head coach Barry Trotz chooses to give him a breather, however, New York might roll with Semyon Varlamov (7-3-3 record, .912 save percentage, 2.70 goals against average).
On the visitors’ side of the ice, Pittsburgh is 11-10 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 21 regular season contests, 11 of its games have gone under the total, while nine have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team, the Penguins are 4-5 SU so far.
The Penguins have converted on 16.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked second overall and it’s successfully defended 89.8 percent of all penalties.
Matt Murray (25.1 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Pittsburgh. Murray has nine wins, eight losses, and three overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .910 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Islanders, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- For both of these teams, the total has gone over in four of their past five games.
- The Penguins have averaged the league’s third-most shots on goal (34.6) while New York has attempted the 30th-most (just 28.9).
- Four of Pittsburgh’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 3-1 in those games.
- This game features two of the more aggressive teams in the league. Pittsburgh skaters have dished out the league’s most hits per game (29.1) while the Isles have registered the second-most (28.8).
