The Nashville Predators (26-22-7) host the New York Islanders (33-16-6) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville at 8 p.m. ET Thursday. We analyze the Islanders-Predators sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Islanders at Predators: Projected starting goalies
Semyon Varlamov vs. Pekka Rinne
Varlamov has posted an impressive 17-9-4 record, 2.59 goals against average and .915 save percentage across 30 starts and four relief appearances this season, and he has actually been way better on the road. He has a 2.91 GAA in 17 starts and 19 games at home while posting a sparkling 2.18 GAA in 13 starts and 15 appearances on the road. His save percentage is .926 on the road, too, as opposed to .907 at home.
Rinne has been in a little bit of a funk lately. While his 17-13-3 overall record isn’t bad, he has a subpar 3.11 GAA and .895 save percentage. In each of his first 11 full seasons in the NHL he has never had a GAA above 2.77 or a save percentage under .902. He beat the Isles earlier this season in New York, allowing three goals on 30 shots back on Dec. 17 in an 8-3 rout by the Preds.
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Islanders at Predators: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:20 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Islanders 4, Predators 3
Moneyline (ML)
The ISLANDERS (+125) will likely be scouring over the video from their mid-December shellacking by five goals in New York. The Predators (-150) are favored in this one, but you can expect the Isles to return the favor.
Life hasn’t been as good for the Preds lately, as they’re just 2-8 in their past 10 games against winning teams, and 1-5 in their past six at home. Meanwhile, the Islanders have won four of their past five overall. New York is just playing a little better lately, so they’re the play on the road. Plus, Varlamov’s splits are heads and tails better away from home.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Islanders to win returns a profit of $12.50, while a $10 wager on the Predators results in a profit of $6.70.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Islanders (+1.5, -223) are a nice play on the road as short dogs on the moneyline, but they’re too expensive catching a goal and a half. The Predators (-1.5, +180) are a tempting play, and the public has been all over the home side on the ML, driving the price up significantly. Nashville covered the puck line in December in the first meeting, but they were also playing much better back then. AVOID.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 5.5 (-125) is 5-1-1 in New York’s past seven games overall, and 6-2 in the past eight against Western Conference foes. The Over is 12-1 in the past 13 for Nashville against Eastern Conference opponents, too, while going 7-3 in the past 10 against winning teams.
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