Islanders, Capitals Look to Keep OVER Streak Going

We have plenty of evidence that the NHL’s regular season doesn’t matter much – and the New York Islanders are this year’s exhibit as they look to take control of their Stanley Cup first-round series with Washington on Friday night. The Islanders dropped their final seven regular-season games but have won four of five since the restart, including a 4-2 victory in Game 1.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Capitals opened at -135 but bettors – perhaps encouraged by the Isles’ recent hot play – have pushed that number down to -120 in the majority of spots. The Sportsbook total of 5.5 has shrunk by a half-point just about everywhere.

New York News & Notes

Not even an early two-goal deficit could throw the Islanders off their game, as they rallied with four unanswered goals while keeping the high-powered Washington offense at bay over the final 28-plus minutes.

The Islanders have used a balanced attack to roll through their first five post-hiatus games, with Anthony Beauvillier at the heart of the team’s scoring barrage. Beauvillier has scored four goals since the restart after scoring just 18 times in 68 regular-season games. He victimized Washington during the regular season with six points (two goals, four assists) in four meetings.

Washington News & Notes

It looked like the Capitals – who had just five goals in their three round-robin games – were ready to break out of their offensive slump after T.J. Oshie scored twice in the Sportsbook 11:18 of the second period. But Washington wouldn’t muster anything the rest of the way, finishing with just 26 shots against a team that allowed an average of 31.2 during the season.

And you know we have to mention it in this space: the Capitals won’t go any further in the Stanley Cup playoffs if they don’t get something out of Alex Ovechkin. The regular-season goal-scoring co-leader (48 goals) has been held without a point in the Capitals’ first four post-break games, though he has taken 16 shots (including 11 over his past two contests).

Betting Pick: OVER 5 (-140)

These teams have hit the OVER in each of their previous four games – and with Washington likely to take more chances in order to get its offense going, we like the chances of that streak continuing Friday.