PPG Paints Arena is the site for a divisional matchup as the New York Islanders square off against the Pittsburgh Penguins. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will showcase the matchup, and the action gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 30.
New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
New York (+200) is currently the underdog to Pittsburgh (-240) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -115 for the over and -105 for the under.
The Penguins are 6-3 straight up (SU) and have recorded -0.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league in this young season, isn’t too far off from to the 47-35 record the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Among its nine games this season, four have gone over the total, while another four have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 2-2 SU at home this year.
Pittsburgh’s successfully converted on 29.2 percent of its power play opportunities thus far. That’s a big improvement from last year, when the team was ranked first in the league by scoring on 25.7 percent of its extra-man advantages. Its penalty kill has improved nicely year-over-year as the team’s gone from successfully defending 80.4 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 14th overall last season) to 88.0 percent this year.
Pittsburgh, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties just 3.1 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.0, the figure in the league. After serving an average of 9.4 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for only 6.6 minutes per outing this year.
Averaging 34.2 saves per game with a .910 save percentage, Matt Murray (4-1) has been the best option in goal for the Penguins this year. If head coach Mike Sullivan chooses to give him the night off, however, the team might go with Casey DeSmith (2-2-2 record, .939 save percentage, 1.95 goals against average).
The Pens will continue seeking offensive production from Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. Malkin (18 points) has produced five goals and 13 assists while Kessel has seven goals and seven assists to his name so far in the early stages of the season.
On the other bench, New York is 5-5 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.6 units this season. A total of six of its matches have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. As the away team so far, New York is 4-3 SU.
New York has converted on 23.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 17th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.7 percent of all penalties.
New York’s skaters have been whistled for penalties 4.3 times per game this season, a number that has climbed some from the 3.4 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 7.8 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for a taxing 11.9 minutes per matchup this season.
Robin Lehner (30.7 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for New York. Lehner owns a 3-3-1 record, and has registered a .929 save percentage and 2.39 goals against average this year.
Anders Lee (four goals, seven assists) has been one of the most vital facilitators on offense for the visiting Islanders.
New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The total has gone under in three of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
- The Islanders are 1-3 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Penguins are 3-1 SU in games where they serve more minutes than the opposition.
- After going 2-2 in games decided by a shootout last year, Pittsburgh is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. New York went 3-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
