A game between two squads that are firmly in the playoff picture, the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders face off at the Barclays Center in a Metro Division tilt. NBC Sports Washington will broadcast the game, and the opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, December 11.
Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders Odds
New York (+105) is entering this one as the underdog to New York (-125), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
Washington is 18-12 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 4.0 units this year. 17 of its outings have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Caps are 6-7 SU.
Washington has converted on 21.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for ninth-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 18th out of 31 teams, and the teams successfully killed off 79.4 percent of all penalties.
The Caps, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.5 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, and 3.5 per game over its past ten. The teams had to defend opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.1 saves per game with a .921 save percentage, Braden Holtby (16-6) has been the best option in goal for Washington this year. If head coach Barry Trotz decides to rest him, however, the team could go with Philipp Grubauer (2-8-1), who has a .893 save percentage and 3.21 goals against average this year.
The visiting Capitals have relied on Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov heavily this season. Ovechkin has 33 points on 21 goals and 12 assists, and has recorded two or more points in seven different games. Kuznetsov has 10 goals and 21 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 19 games).
On the other side of the ice, New York is 16-13 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.3 units this year. 19 of its matches have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 8-3 SU at home this year.
The Islanders have converted on just 20.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 72.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
New York players have been penalized only 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jaroslav Halak has stopped 26.4 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Islanders. Halak has eight wins, nine losses, and one OT loss and has maintained a poor .905 save percentage and 2.93 goals against average this year.
Josh Bailey (five goals, 27 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Isles.
Washington Capitals at New York Islanders Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Islanders, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- New York is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 2-0 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in four of New York’s last five outings.
- Washington has managed 26.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while New York has been attempting 37.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
- New York has averaged 3.6 goals per game overall this season, but has been averaging 2.0 goals per contest over its three-game losing streak.
- Nine of Washington’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 7-2 in those games.
