New York Islanders vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: NHL Odds, Prediction
It’s the second of three regular-season meetings, with the Maple Leafs going to Brooklyn on March 30.
Islanders vs Maple Leafs Betting Analysis
On the last night of January, the Islanders were routed 5-0 in Toronto – New York hasn’t been blanked since. Leafs 26-year-old rookie Justin Holl had a goal in his NHL debut and was named the No. 2 star of the game. Toronto jumped ahead at 5:37 of the first on an unassisted goal by Kasperi Kapanen. Auston Matthews made it 2-0 at 13:39 of the first, and Mitch Marner and Travis Dermott added second-period tallies. Holl’s marker closed it out at 3:42 of the third.
Toronto had 50 shots on goal. Dermott added an assist and was the No. 1 star. Frederik Andersen made 28 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, and he hadn’t another since until …. see below. Thomas Greiss stopped 45 shots for the Islanders.
The Islanders can score with anyone as they rank fourth in the league in goals per game and have three guys in John Tavares, Josh Bailey and Mathew Barzal with at least 62 points, but their goaltending duo of Jaroslav Halak and Greiss has been porous, ranking last in goals-against. The team also is 30th on the penalty kill.
The total has gone over in nine of the past 10 meetings in Toronto.
New York Islanders
The Islanders (29-26-6) are just on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff field looking in as things stand currently. That final wild-card spot likely will come down to Carolina, the Isles, Columbus or New York Rangers. The Islanders have a very tough schedule upcoming with seven of their next eight on the road. Thursday’s matchup starts a three-game trip through Canada.
The Isles have been off since a 5-3 home loss to Minnesota on Monday. Halak permitted five goals on 32 shots to fall to 18-19-4 with a 3.22 GAA and .911 save percentage. Greiss is dealing with a lower-body injury, so it likely will be Halak again Thursday. Tavares, the Mississauga native and team captain, has 30 goals and 34 assists on the season as he nears free agency. Barzal has 16 goals and 46 assists and is a favourite for the Calder Trophy.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto (37-20-5) won for the seventh time in eight games Tuesday, 1-0 over visiting Florida to start a three-game homestand. After not looking sharp Saturday in a loss at Pittsburgh, Anderson stopped 40 Panthers shots in his career-best fifth shutout of the season. The Dane apparently likes being busy as he’s now 7-0-2 with a 1.82 GAA, .952 SV and two shutouts this season when facing at least 40 shots.
James van Riemsdyk had the lone goal for Toronto, which has won seven consecutive games at Air Canada Centre. It was JVR’s 25th goal of the season, five shy of a career high.
