New York Islanders at Boston Bruins Betting Preview
This will be the 11th meeting between these two teams, with the second-round playoff series tied at 1 game apiece. The Boston Bruins took game one by a dominating score of 5-2, then the New York Islanders tied the series up on a Casey Cizikas breakaway goal in game two to give the Islanders a 4-3 win in overtime. Game two was also goaltender Semyon Varlamov’s first playoff win this season as the backup goalie Ilya Sorokin has been incredible for the Islanders so far in the NHL playoffs.
The Bruins split the first two games of the series at home, now going back to Long Island for games three and four, where they are 0-4 this season. The Bruins are averaging 1.3 goals for and 3.4 Goals against this season in New York this season, and the Islanders are a total home record of 25-5 this season, including the playoffs. So it looks like the series momentum might be shifting to the Islanders’ favor, but if there’s one team that can withstand the pressure, it’s the Boston Bruins.
New York Islanders betting preview
The NY Islanders are the one team that Boston hasn’t been able to shake all season long. The Islanders have covered a +1.5 spread in six of their eight meetings in the regular season and in one out of the two games they’ve played in the playoffs so far. Earlier in the season, Boston lost five consecutive games to the Islanders, and Sorokin was in net for three of those games, and he is also in net for tonight’s affair.
The Islanders covered a +1.5 puck line spread in game two on the road, where they are 13-17 this season against the spread. Now they travel back to Long Island for game three, where the Islanders are 18-12 this season against the spread. After that long overtime win, the Islanders look to take all the momentum back home and look to take a 2-1 series lead over the Boston Bruins.
The Boston Bruins took Game 1 by a dominating score of 5-2, then the New York Islanders tied the series up in Game 2 to give the Islanders a 4-3 win in overtime.Boston Bruins betting preview
The Boston Bruins ended the regular season as the 2nd seed in the eastern division behind the Penguins, who the Islanders just knocked out in a six-game series. Since they got their best player and top point scorer, David Pastrnak, back from injury earlier this season, they haven’t fallen below the second seed. The Bruins have struggled consistently against the Islanders this season. These Islanders are one of two teams the Bruins didn’t have a winning record against in the regular season where the Bruins had a season record of 3-5 against the Islanders, and their struggles against them are leaking into the playoffs.
Veteran goalie, Tuuka Rask, has done all he can this postseason, posting a 5-2 record with a 2.06 goals-against average and a .93 save percentage. In Game One, the Bruins scored five goals, and in Game Two, they only scored three because the Islanders went back to their hot goaltender, rookie Sorokin who is posting a 4-1 record with a 2.3 goals-against average and a .94 save percentage. With both goalies with even stats, this game three will be a major turning point in this series for one of these teams. Will it be the 25-year-old rookie for the Isles or the scrappy, experienced veteran Rask that helps their team take a big two games to one series lead?
Boston vs New York odds and lines
Vegas odds have opened the odds with the Bruins favored by 1.5 goals and the over/under set at 5.5 goals.
Free pick of the night
My free pick of the night is Islanders moneyline at +127.
