For the first time since helping the Washington Capitals win their first Stanley Cup last June, Barry Trotz will return to Capital One Arena as the head coach of the New York Islanders. The Islanders, who’ve experienced a major resurgence under Trotz this season, opened as +140 road underdogs with a total of 5.5.
- The Islanders are 2-7 SU in their last nine games on the road vs the Capitals.
- The Islanders are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five games on the road.
- The total has gone UNDER in five of the Capitals’ last seven games at home (avg. combined score: 5.0).
Islanders vs Capitals Game Center
Holtby has starred against the Islanders in his career
A much-improved defense has been the biggest improvement for the Isles (27-15-4 SU). New York boasts the stingiest defense in the NHL at 2.52 goals allowed per game after yielding a league-high 3.57 last year. The Islanders have been fantastic on the penalty kill of late, killing off all 12 of their penalty kill efforts in the past four contests. Mathew Barzal has paved the way offensively for the club this season, as the Canadian has registered a team-leading 43 points, including a goal and four assists in his past five games.
The Capitals have lost three straight following a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Nashville Predators on Tuesday – a streak that coincides with the absence of starting goaltender Braden Holtby. Holtby was a full participant in yesterday’s practice and is expected to return to action tonight. In his career vs the Islanders, Holtby owns a sparkling 15-4-3 record with a 2.39 goals-against average and .922 save percentage. Captain Alex Ovechkin has collected three goals and two assists during his personal four-game point streak.
UNDERs the story in this series
These teams collided in the Empire State on November 26, and Washington escaped with a 4-1 triumph in the first of four meetings this season. The Islanders haven’t fared much better in D.C. over the years, going 2-7 SU in their last nine trips to the nation’s capital.
Totals bettors need to take note of the Capitals’ penchant for going UNDER totals, as five of Washington’s previous seven tilts have gone below the closing total with an average combined score of five goals. The Islanders have also gone UNDER in each of their past four overall with an average combined score of 4.3 goals.
My pick: take the UNDER
The Islanders’ recent defensive dominance has made them one of the best UNDER bets in the NHL, evidenced by New York going 16-27-3 O/U on the season. Considering Holtby’s solid numbers against the Islanders over the years and both teams’ habit of going UNDER totals, yet another UNDER could be in store tonight.
