With only six games remaining in their NHL regular season, the New York Islanders sit only one point behind the Washington Capitals for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division and remain tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place. The Isles will look to create some separation from the pack with a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight. Sportsbooks opened the Islanders as +125 road underdogs with a total of 5.5.
Islanders vs Blue Jackets Game Center
Standout Stats
- After picking up the team’s league-high 10th shutout in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Arizona, Isles goaltender Robin Lehner has saved 53 of 55 shots faced in his last two games. Don’t be surprised if Thomas Greiss is in net tonight, however, as he’s beaten Columbus in all three meetings of the squads this season.
- Those games haven’t been necessarily close either, as the Islanders have outscored Columbus 8-2 in those contests. The Blue Jackets avoided a four-game winless road trip with a 5-0 victory over Vancouver on Sunday and return home trailing Montreal by two points for the second wild-card spot.
- The Isles’ power play has been non-existent of late. In New York’s past 16 games, it’s an awful 1-for-37 with the man advantage. Luckily, the Islanders’ defense has been good enough to overcome those power-play issues, evidenced by the club setting a franchise record by allowing one goal or less for the 26th time this season in the triumph over Arizona.
- New York has been one of the top UNDER teams in the NHL all year long, and that trend continues to cash entering the final few games of the regular season. The Islanders have gone UNDER in seven of their past eight games with an average combined score of 3.8 goals. On the year, they’re a sizzling 25-47-4 O/U.
- Columbus has been going UNDER totals on its own of late. In the Blue Jackets’ previous five games, the UNDER is a perfect 5-0 with an average combined score of 4.4 goals.
My best bet for Islanders-Blue Jackets
UNDER 5.5 goals
While I lean toward the Islanders on the moneyline, I’m following the aforementioned totals trends and backing the UNDER in this game. New York’s ability to keep the puck out of its own net coupled with its suddenly struggling offense has made the Isles a lights-out UNDER wager all season. Columbus isn’t exactly lighting up the lamp lately either, so take the UNDER.
