NHL Hockey Free Pick: New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Hockey betting fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com.
Team records:
New York: 24-27-8
Pittsburgh: 35-22-2
Tonight, 7:30 p.m. ET
Sportsbook odds: Islanders +230, Penguins -280
Though they’re fresh off a win in Nashville, the New York Islanders are walking into a buzzsaw tonight. Before edging the Preds at home last night, they’d lost seven straight games. Now they have to play on back-to-back nights and against the defending champs in Pittsburgh.
The last time the Isles visited Pittsburgh, the Pens set Mellon Arena on fire. They potted six goals as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combined for five goals and nine points. Sid and Geno haven’t looked back since that game in mid January. Crosby has 18 goals in his last 18 games and needs one more for his first career 40-goal season.
Malkin has six points in just three games this month, suggesting his slump is over.
The Pens could use a bit more from Marc-Andre Fleury. While it’s true that Alex Ovechkin alone inflated Fleury’s goals against average during Washington’s 5-4, come-from-behind win last Sunday, the truth is that Fleury has been subpar over the last month or two. He has a 4.59 goals against average this month and a GAA of 2.77 or higher in three of the last five months. 
Even if Fleury doesn’t find himself tonight, though, the Pens should score enough to win. The Isles are still too green to handle the Pens’ high-octane attack.
NHL Betting Trends:
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against NY Islanders
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing NY Islanders
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Pittsburgh’s last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Pittsburgh’s last 11 games when playing at home against NY Islanders
The total has gone OVER in 8 of the NY Islanders last 11 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of the NY Islanders last 12 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the NY Islanders last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of the NY Islanders last 9 games when playing Pittsburgh
Pick: Penguins -280
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Shea Matthews lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national newspapers. He now applies his knowledge to sports betting and handicapping every day, and shares his winning picks with the world.
