Islanders vs Penguins NHL Spread/Handicapping
Headline: Penguins Look to Continue Dominance Over Islanders Tuesday Night
The Pittsburgh Penguins return home Tuesday night to play just their second game on home ice this season. Their opposition Tuesday – the New York Islanders, a team that they have beaten 13 of the last 14 meetings in Pittsburgh.
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NY Islanders (2-2-1-0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (3-2-0-0)
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: TSN, NBCSN, ROOT
Islanders vs. Penguins Betting Lines from betonline.com
New York Islanders +1½ -160 +195
Pittsburgh Penguins -1½ +140 -215
Over/Under 5.5
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The Pens beat the Ottawa Senators 2-1 in a shootout Sunday while the Isles will be looking for a rebound effort after losing 5-4 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets.
The New York Islanders will be hungry Tuesday night after letting one slip away Sunday after leading 4-2 late in the third period against Winnipeg and eventually losing. The Islanders have shown signs of taking a step up this season but a matchup against the Penguins is always a tough assignment for New York – just like every other team in the NHL.
The Isles offense has been decent so far this season – 18 goals in five games with three players (Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson and Keith Aucoin) each registering three goals already. John Tavares is the leading scorer for the Isles with seven points – his lone goal came last game. However, Tavares has played seven straight games against the Penguins without recording a point – something that will have to change if New York is to have a chance Tuesday.
It is unclear who will start between the pipes for New York Tuesday. Evgeni Nabokov, who has a 3.49 goals-against average in four starts this season, left Sunday’s game after two periods with an injury, but he’s had the Penguins’ number in recent years. Nabokov is 4-1-0 with a 1.38 GAA in his last six starts against Pittsburgh, three of which came with San Jose. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been just OK so far in 2013 – one game over .500 but they have played just once on home ice thus far. The Pens have scored 2.8 goals per game so far and are as healthy as they have been in years. The Pens have been getting off to good starts in all of their games – they have scored first in four of the first five but holding leads has been a bit of an issue thus far.
Strangely, Sidney Crosby has struggled in the last two meetings between the clubs – Crosby failed to get a point as Pittsburgh lost the last two meetings with New York last season. He recorded 20 as the Penguins went 6-0-1 in the previous seven matchups. Pittsburgh is 13-0-2 against the Islanders when Crosby scores a goal.
Thomas Vokoun may get the start Tuesday night – he is 1-1-0 this season with a 3.03 goals against average.
Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
- Over is 15-5-1 in NYI last 21 overall.
- NYI are 26-76 in their last 102 vs. Atlantic.
- NYI are 46-111 in their last 157 road games.
- Over is 10-3-1 in PIT last 14 vs. Atlantic.
- PIT are 19-7 in their last 26 home games.
- PIT are 48-18 in their last 66 Tue. games.
- NYI are 7-21 in the last 28 meetings.
- Home team is 16-6 in the last 22 meetings.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will be happy to be at home Tuesday night and will be even happier to welcome an Islanders team that they have absolutely owned in Pittsburgh the last few seasons. Every game is crucial in this abbreviated season – don’t think that fact is lost on the Penguins.
As of now, Pittsburgh is elite – the Islanders are third or fourth tier. Take the Pens to prove why they are the team to beat in the East on Tuesday night as they continue their domination over and improving but still overmatched Islanders team.
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -215. I wouldn’t hesitate to take a look at the Moneyline too – Pittsburgh + 1 1/2 is an OK bet – I can imagine a 4-1 or 5-1 final in this one.
