The Barclays Center will be the site for an East-West matchup as the New York Islanders welcome the visiting Colorado Avalanche. The match will get going at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 5, and it’ll be showcased live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Colorado Avalanche vs. New York Islanders Odds
With a moneyline of -200, New York heads into the matchup as the heavy favorite. The line for Colorado sits at +170 and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Colorado is 8-5 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.6 units this year. Through 13 regular season matches, seven of its games have gone over the total, while five have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Avalanche team is 3-4 SU on the road.
The Avalanche have found the net on 20.8 percent of their power play chances thus far. That’s a noticeable step forward from last year, when they were ranked 30th in the NHL by scoring on 12.6 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has also gotten stronger since last year, as they’ve gone from successfully defending 76.6 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 29th overall last season) to 81.5 percent this year.
For the team as a whole, the Avs have been sent to the penalty box 4.8 times per game this season, a number that’s jumped some from the 4.0 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.4 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 11.4 minutes per matchup this year.
With a .911 save percentage and 31.9 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (6-3) has been the best option in goal for Colorado this season. Varlamov did just play last night, however, so Colorado could decide to rest him and instead roll with Jonathan Bernier (2-2 record, .906 save percentage, 3.03 goals against average).
Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon will both lead the way for the visiting Avalanche. Rantanen has 12 points on five goals and seven assists, and has recorded two or more points in two different games. MacKinnon has three goals and nine assists to his credit, and has registered at least one point in six games.
Over on the other bench, New York is 7-6 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.9 units this season. Eight of its contests have gone over the total, while five have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team is 4-1 SU at home.
The Islanders have converted on just 19.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Islanders players have been whistled for penalties only 3.8 times per game this season, a number that’s up a bit from the 3.4 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 7.9 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 8.1 minutes per matchup this year.
Jaroslav Halak (25.8 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Islanders. Halak has five wins and four losses and has registered a poor .906 save percentage and 2.83 goals against average this season.
The Isles offense will be led by John Tavares (12 goals, five assists).
Colorado Avalanche vs. New York Islanders Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Islanders, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The total has gone over in each of New York’s last five games.
- Colorado has managed 25.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while New York has been attempting 30.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
