The Detroit Red Wings (28-24-9) open a 2-game weekend road trip Saturday against the New York Islanders (31-25-8) at UBS Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Red Wings vs. Islanders odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Red Wings enter on a 4-game losing skid in which they’ve picked up just 1 point out of 8 available. Detroit has managed just 7 goals during the span, with 4 coming in a 5-4 OT loss last time out against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
The Islanders were tripped up 2-1 in a shootout at the Minnesota Wild Tuesday, but New York has still managed to win 3 of its last 5 games (3-1-1).
The last time these teams faced each other, G Ilya Sorokin had a 23-save shutout in a 2-0 win on Jan. 27 at UBS Arena. On Nov. 5 in Detroit, G Ville Husso turned aside all 24 of the shots he faced in a 3-0 Red Wings victory.
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Red Wings at Islanders odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:26 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Red Wings +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Islanders -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Red Wings +1.5 (-155) | Islanders -1.5 (+135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)
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Red Wings at Islanders projected goalies
Magnus Hellberg (4-5-1, 2.90 GAA, .900 SV%) vs. Ilya Sorokin (20-18-6, 2.37 GAA, .925 SV%, 5 SO)
The 31-year-old Swedish netminder is expected to make the start with Husso sidelined due to an undisclosed reason. G Alex Nedeljkovic was recalled from Grand Rapids of the AHL on an emergency basis. Hellberg was toasted for 6 goals on 42 shots in a 6-2 loss at the Ottawa Senators Monday in his most recent action.
Sorokin has allowed just 7 total goals in his past 4 starts, including a single goal in a hard-luck 2-1 loss in a shootout at Minnesota Tuesday. Still, he wrapped up February with a 4-2-2 record, 2.35 GAA and .935 SV% in 8 starts.
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Red Wings at Islanders picks and predictions
Prediction
Islanders 4, Red Wings 2
Moneyline
The Islanders (-210) are too expensive for my liking. I set a personal limit of -180 for standalone moneyline plays, with very few exceptions. Look to the puck line instead.
AVOID.
Puck line/Against the spread
The ISLANDERS -1.5 (+135) won and covered the puck line in the most recent home meeting with the Red Wings. In fact, the home team has won 7 straight meetings in this series, with just 2 of the games decided by a single goal. If you like New York to win on home ice, you should like it to cover the puck line.
Over/Under
The ALTERNATE TOTAL GOALS UNDER 6.5 (-155) has cashed in 3 of the past 4 meetings in this series, including each of the first 2 meetings this season.
There is a little concern with Detroit’s goaltender situation a little in disarray, but matinee games tend to be lower-scoring anyway. In addition, Sorokin has yielded just 7 goals on his past 131 shots. He is in the pocket right now, and it’s another great reason to go low.
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