John Tavares was the face of the New York Islanders since getting drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2009, but the former captain returns to Long Island for the first time tonight since signing a $77-million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer. Sportsbooks opened the game as a pick’em with a total of 5.5.
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Game Center
Standout Stats
- Tavares has faced his former team once this season in Canada, when New York ended a four-game losing streak in the series with a 4-0 triumph over the Maple Leafs on December 29. On the season, Tavares leads the Buds with 36 goals – two shy of his career high.
- Toronto is on a three-game winning streak after skating to a 6-2 victory over Edmonton on Wednesday to pull within one point of Boston for second place in the Atlantic Division. In that span, they’ve scored 17 goals while allowing only eight.
- Is an UNDER in store tonight? The Maple Leafs have gone UNDER in eight of their last 11 road games with an average combined score of 5.6 goals. The Isles have been one of the top UNDER teams in the NHL this season, as they’ve gone below the closing total in 15 of their past 20 tilts.
- The Islanders are playing the rest of their regular-season home games at Nassau Coliseum, where they’re 6-2-2 SU compared to 12-6-2 at Barclays Center. New York is coming off a 3-1 loss to Calgary on Tuesday in the opener of a five-game homestand.
- Garret Sparks is listed as the probable starting goalie for Toronto. The backup is 7-4-1 with a 2.85 GAA and .908 save percentage in 2018-19 but took the loss in his last start against the New York Rangers on February 10 after allowing three goals on 29 shots.
- Islanders goaltender Robin Lehner made 36 saves in the shutout over the Leafs in the last meeting between the clubs. On the year, Lehner is 19-10-5 with a 2.10 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.
- The Maple Leafs have fared well in this series of late, evidenced by Toronto going 4-1 SU in its last five matchups with the Islanders. The Leafs haven’t been covering the puckline, though, as Toronto is 0-3 on the puckline in its last three clashes with New York.
My best bet for Maple Leafs-Islanders
Maple Leafs moneyline
This is going to be an emotional game due to Tavares’ return to Long Island, but I think the Maple Leafs pull out a win at the Coliseum tonight. Toronto’s offense has been stellar all year long but it’s been especially potent lately, and the Islanders haven’t looked very sharp in their last few games.
I’d feel more confident if Frederik Andersen was starting for Toronto, yet Sparks’ spot start has given the Leafs a better moneyline price. Tavares will silence the boos and pick up a win in his return to New York.
