New York Islanders vs. Vancouver Canucks: NHL Odds, Prediction
At this point of the season, about all the Vancouver Canucks have to compete for is to be a playoff spoiler. They can help put a dent in the New York Islanders’ fading postseason chances Monday in the final meeting between the teams.
Islanders vs Canucks Betting Analysis
This is the second of two meetings between these two teams.
On Nov. 28 in Brooklyn, Vancouver was +145 Sports Interaction betting underdog and lost 5-2 (total was set at 5.5) to the Islanders. The Canucks might have been worn out by that point as it was the fifth game of a six-game road trip. With the game tied at 1 late in the first period, Calvin de Haan and Jordan Eberle scored less than a minute apart to give the Islanders a 3-1 lead, and they never looked back. Andrew Ladd, Anders Lee and John Tavares also scored goals for New York. Jaroslav Halak made 22 saves. Thomas Vanek, now with Columbus, and Bo Horvat scored for the Canucks, with Horvat’s shorthanded. That remains his only such goal this season. Anders Nilsson had 31 saves.
The biggest story line for this game will be the last matchup of the season between the two Calder Trophy favourites in Vancouver defenceman Brock Boeser and Islanders winger Mathew Barzal. The 21-year-old Boeser, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2015 draft, leads all rookies in goals (29) and is second in points (55). The 20-year-old Barzal, the No. 16 overall pick in 2015, leads rookies in points (67). Barzal had an assist in the first meeting, while Boeser was held without a point and was minus-3. Of course, the No. 1 overall pick in 2015 was a guy named Connor McDavid. The Maple Leafs chose Mitch Marner with the No. 4 pick. Strong class.
New York goes for another season sweep as it won 4-2 at home last year and 4-3 in overtime in Vancouver.
The over has hit in three of the past four meetings in the series.
New York Islanders
The Islanders (29-29-8) haven’t had a losing record this season since dropping their opener but would fall below .500 with a defeat here as their playoff chances are imploding on a six-game losing streak. They haven’t scored more than three goals in any of those, and the Isles’ goaltending simply isn’t good enough for them to win most nights when they don’t find the net more than three times. New York started a four-game road trip Saturday with a 3-2 OT defeat in Pittsburgh. That was in the second of a back-to-back and with No. 2 netminder Thomas Greiss injured, Christopher Gibson got the call and made 47 saves in his first NHL appearance since the 2015-16 season. Should be Halak on Monday; he’s 18-22-5 with a 3.22 goals-against average and .909 save percentage. His last win was Feb. 15.
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver (24-32-9) dropped its third in a row Friday, 4-3 in OT at home to the Nashville Predators when Calle Jarnkrok won it just 43 seconds into overtime. Brandon Sutter, Horvat and Daniel Sedin scored for the Canucks. Alex Edler had two assists and is now the all-time leading scorer for a blueliner in franchise history with 326 points. Winger Sven Baertschi suffered a separated shoulder on a hit from Nashville’s Alexei Emelin, and Baertschi’s season is likely over. He has 14 goals and 15 assists and is plus-3 in 53 games.
