Pittsburgh Penguins vs
New York IslandersPredictions & Preview

Penguins look to continue momentum against struggling Islanders in Metropolitan Division showdown at UBS Arena

The NHL season continues with a matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division. Both teams have struggled recently, with the Penguins holding a record of 5-7-1 and the Islanders at 4-6-2. The game is set for 7:30 ET at UBS Arena in Elmont, NJ. New York is the favorite to win with a -132 opening line that has not moved. I will provide my picks and predictions on the side and total for this game.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Penguins +115 | Islanders -132
• Spread: Penguins +1.5 (-225) | Islanders -1.5 (+190)
• Total: Over/Under 6 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that New York will win straight-up is 57%.

Pittsburgh vs New York Stats

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are facing a challenging road back to the postseason after missing out for two consecutive years. Coach Mike Sullivan and his team have had a tough start to the new season, with a record of 5-7-1. Despite a six-game losing streak, they have managed to bounce back with two recent wins against Anaheim and Montreal. Their latest victory saw goals from Sidney Crosby and Blake Lizotte, with standout goaltending from Alex Nedeljkovic. Overall, the Penguins rank 19th offensively and 31st defensively in the league. They are currently priced at +340 to make the playoffs and -450 to miss. With a power ranking of 16, Pittsburgh ranks 21st in offense, 29th in defense, and has a record of 5-7-1 this season.

New York Islanders Analysis

Coach Patrick Roy took over as head coach of the New York Islanders mid-season in 2023-24, leading the team to a third-place finish in the Metropolitan Division. Despite this, the team was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes. The current season has been challenging for the Islanders, with a 4-6-2 record and struggles on offense and closing out games. Recent losses have dropped the team to seventh in the Metro, including a 5-2 defeat to the Rangers where Ilya Sorokin took the loss in net. The team's power play has struggled, ranking 29th in the NHL. In terms of power rankings, the Islanders rank 12th overall and are 31st in offense, scoring an average of 2.36 goals per game. Defensively, they rank 8th, giving up an average of 2.91 goals per game. In their last three matchups with Pittsburgh, the Islanders went 2-1-0.

Penguins gaining momentum against struggling Islanders, hesitant to bet on moneyline juice

I am hesitant to take the Islanders at a moneyline juice of -125 due to their current performance. While I typically only consider a few teams for such a bet, the Penguins have not shown the consistency needed for me to consider them in this case. The Islanders have struggled offensively this season, which is reflected in their statistics. I am also leaning towards the under for this matchup. However, on the side bet, Pittsburgh appears to be gaining momentum with two consecutive wins, demonstrating improved defensive play by allowing only one goal in each recent victory. With strong defense and goaltending, the Penguins may not need much offense to secure a win at UBS Arena on Tuesday.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]