PPG Paints Arena is playing host a Metro Division matchup as the Pittsburgh Penguins face off against the visiting New York Islanders. The match will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 7, and fans at home are able to see the game live on Sportsnet.
New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
New York (+125) is playing the role of underdog to Pittsburgh (-145), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over). After they originally opened at -105 over and -115 under, those lines have shifted.
New York is 16-11 straight up (SU) and has earned 5.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 18 of its matches have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Islanders team is 8-8 SU on the road.
New York has converted on 21.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 30th in the league, and it’s successfully killed off only 75.0 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, New York has been penalized just 3.7 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 4.4 per game over its last five road outings. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.0 saves per game with a .890 save percentage, Thomas Greiss (8-6-2) has been the top option in goal for New York this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, head coach Doug Weight might turn to Jaroslav Halak (8-7 record, .905 save percentage, 2.92 goals against average).
Josh Bailey and John Tavares will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Islanders. Bailey has 31 points via five goals and 26 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games. Tavares has 17 goals and 14 assists to his name (and has notched a point in 15 games).
On the other side of the rink, Pittsburgh is 15-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 29 regular season outings, 16 of its games have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 9-4 SU as the home team this year.
Pittsburgh has converted on 25.7 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 19th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Pittsburgh players have been sent to the penalty box 4.7 times per game in total this season, and 4.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Matt Murray (26.6 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh. Murray has 12 wins, nine losses, and one OT loss to his name and has registered a poor .906 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average this year.
The Pens will be led on offense by Phil Kessel (13 goals, 21 assists).
New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The total has gone over in three of Pittsburgh’s last five outings.
- New York has managed 30.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Pittsburgh is averaging 40.8 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- The Islanders are 6-3 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Penguins are 6-8 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Pittsburgh is ranked 25th in the league this season with 6.1 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward, as the team has forced 6.8 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.2 takeaways over its last five.
- New York skaters have created 7.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 6.6 takeaways per game (ranked 22nd).
