The Pittsburgh Penguins (5-4-1) travel to meet the New York Islanders (3-4-2) at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop. Below, we analyze the Penguins-Islanders NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Penguins at Islanders: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:10 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Penguins -112 (bet $112 to win $100) | Islanders -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Penguins -1.5 (+240) | Islanders +1.5 (-300)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Penguins at Islanders: Projected starting goalies
Tristan Jarry (2-3-1, .859 SV%, 3.92 GAA) vs. Semyon Varlamov (3-2-1, .924 SV%, 2.00 GAA, 2 SO)
Jarry hasn’t appeared since Jan. 28. Casey DeSmith started the most recent game for the Penguins, and then they were off for a couple of days due to a COVID-19 issue with the New Jersey Devils. Jarry hasn’t faced the Islanders since the 2017-18 season. He is 3-0-0 with a 1.62 GAA, .940 SV% and a shutout in three career starts against the Isles.
It’s been a tale of two seasons for Varlamov already. He went 3-0-0 with a 0.33 GAA and two shutouts in his first three starts, and he is 0-2-1 with an .855 SV% in his previous three outings. Last season against the Penguins he was 1-0-1 with a 3.84 GAA and .886 SV% in two outings.
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Penguins at Islanders: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Islanders 4, Penguins 3
Money line (ML)
The ISLANDERS (-105) are a good play at home against a Penguins side that is well-rested. New York is rested, too. The Isles haven’t played since Jan. 31 in Philadelphia, as the Buffalo Sabres were unable to travel for a two-game Tuesday-Thursday set due to COVID concerns.
The Isles went 0-3-2 on a brutal road trip, but return to home ice where they’re a perfect 2-for-2. Look for the home cooking to get the Isles going again.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The Islanders +1.5 (-300) are far too expensive for the goal of insurance in the event of a loss on the spread. Three of their past four games were one-goal contests and they were on the short end of each.
In their three victories, two have also covered the puck line, although they haven’t hit a winner since Jan. 21 against New Jersey. PASS.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 5.5 (-120) is the trend for both teams lately, and the rust of having not played in a little while will also help keep the scoring low.
The Under is 4-1 in Pittsburgh’s past five overall, and the Under is 3-0-1 in New York’s past four at home. The Under is also 9-2-1 in the past 12 overall for the Isles.
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