Islanders vs Penguins NHL Spread/Handicapping
The biggest mismatch of the postseason continues Friday night when the New York Islanders attempt to gain a little respectability against the Pittsburgh Penguins – a team that beat them in relatively easy fashion in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarter final. Sound easy?
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#8 NY Islanders (24-17-4-3) at #1 Pittsburgh Penguins (36-12-0-0)
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, May 3, 2013
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: TSN, NBCSN, MSG PLUS, ROOT
Penguins lead series 1-0
Isles vs. Pens betting Lines from Bovada
New York Islanders +1½ -150 +204 Ov 5½ +100
Pittsburgh Penguins -1½ +130 -226 Un 5½ -110
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Penguins Look to Keep Foot On Throttle Friday Night
It won`t be – Pittsburgh has allowed just one goal to the Islanders in the last 10 periods played at Consol Energy Center, outscoring the Islanders 14-1 over that span. The Penguins may be forced to play without standout James Neal Friday night after he sustained an injury in Game 1 BUT Sid Crosby just may make his long awaited return to the Pittsburgh’s lineup to make life hell for the New York Islanders.
Not a whole lot went right for the New York Islanders in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarter final series. Keep in mind that this team went 11-1-2 down the stretch to qualify for the postseason. But they were outhustled, outshot and totally outclassed in Game 1 by the Goliath of the East.
If the Islanders hope to make this a series, John Tavares will have to be much better. Pittsburgh’s third line of Morrow, Brandon Sutter and Matt Cooke completely shut the league`s third best scorer holding him without a shot during the game. New York’s special teams have to wake up as well – they were unable to generate much on the power play and the penalty kill gave up two goals against.
If the offense wasn`t bad enough, the defense allowed the best offense in the league to virtually do what it pleased. Evgeni Nabokov allowed four goals on 19 shots in just 22 minutes – not a good sign going forward. [ad-4437448]
It was difficult to imagine the Pens being slowed by the Islanders before the series began and is even more unlikely that the Islanders will be able to put up the necessary fight. Pittsburgh`s power play clicked twice, Pascal Dupuis netted a pair of goals and newcomers Jarome Iginla and Jussi Jokinen each contributed a pair of assists. Evgeni Malkin was flying and Brenden Morrow did just what he was brought over to do – shut down the opposition`s Stud.
Marc-Andre Fleury shook off a poor end to the regular season and erased the memory of a brutal 2012 playoff debacle with his sixth career playoff shutout. All is well in Pittsburgh and things could get a whole lot better is Sid the Kid is cleared to play.
Betting Prediction: A few trends to consider:
• NYI are 2-9 in their last 11 Fri. games.
• NYI are 33-87 in their last 120 vs. Atlantic.
• Over is 10-4-1 in NYI last 15 Fri. games.
• Under is 6-1-1 in PIT last 8 vs. Atlantic.
• PIT are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. Atlantic.
• Under is 11-3 in PIT last 14 home games.
• NYI are 16-35 in the last 51 meetings.
• Home team is 19-9 in the last 28 meetings.
The New York Islanders did absolutely nothing in Game 1 to give any sort of impression that they will be able to give the Penguins a run in this series. The Isles have scored just once against Pittsburgh in the last 10 periods on the road. Don’t look for that trend to change Friday. The Pens are too deep, too complete and too motivated to be denied.
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -226
