The Montreal Canadiens (9-33-7) travel to meet the New York Islanders (18-20-6) Sunday at UBS Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we look at the Canadiens vs. Islanders odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
The Canadiens are coming off a rare win against a contender as they topped the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in overtime Thursday behind G Sam Montembault. That snapped a 10-game losing skid dating back to Jan. 18, and an eight-game pointless streak.
The Islanders posted a 4-1 victory against the Boston Bruins Thursday as they snapped a three-game slide of their own. New York pushed against the total, but the Over is still 3-1-1 across its last five games overall.
Canadiens at Islanders odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:48 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Canadiens +210 (bet $100 to win $210) | Islanders -270 (bet $270 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Canadiens +1.5 (-122) | Islanders -1.5 (-102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -102 | U: -122)
Watch: ESPN+ has become a must-have for hockey fans. Get access to more than 1,000 out-of-market NHL games, 75 weekly national games, and more all season. Sign up for ESPN+ now!
Canadiens at Islanders projected goalies
Andrew Hammond (6-2-3, 2.44 GAA, .908 SV%, 3 SO – 2021-22 Iowa Wild – AHL) vs. Ilya Sorokin (15-11-5, 2.46 GAA, .921 SV%, 4 SO)
Hammond, acquired from the Minnesota Wild, is confirmed to make his first NHL start since the 2017-18 season when he was with the Colorado Avalanche. He was sharp at Iowa in the AHL, posting three shutouts in 11 appearances.
Sorokin slapped the brakes on a three-game losing streak, turning aside 26 of the 27 shots he faced in a win over the Boston Bruins Thursday. He had allowed 3 or more goals in four straight outings prior to the win.
Canadiens at Islanders odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Canadiens 3, Islanders 2
The CANADIENS (+210) are worth a look with a chance to more than double up your initial stake. It’s a tall order against the likes of a goalie like Sorokin, but if you’re going to get him, it’s now. The Islanders (-280) are just way too expensive anyway, especially for a team with just one win in its last four outings.
Against the spread
The CANADIENS +1.5 (-122) aren’t out of line if you don’t like them straight up and would like a little bit of insurance. They’re coming off a solid victory over the Blues, but this is a team with a single digit in the win column still. It makes sense not to jump right in on both feet for a money line bet. Still, that’s where there is better value against another struggling team.
Over/Under
UNDER 5.5 (-122) is a good play in this matinee affair on The Island. An Under wager goes against the trends for the Habs and the trends in this series.
However, the Under is 17-6-3 in the last 26 at home for the Isles and 9-4-1 in their past 14 as favorites. The biggest concern is Hammond, who gets his first NHL start in several years. He could be great, and full of adrenaline, or he could fold like a tent.
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]