Islanders vs Kraken Game Preview, Odds, Picks & Predictions
Playoff Hopes for New York Hanging By Thread
Kraken Can Play Spoiler vs Islanders
The ship sailed on the Seattle Kraken’s playoff hopes a long time ago in their inaugural season, but there’s still (some) life for the New York Islanders. However, if New York loses a fifth game in its last six tries, the future looks a lot murkier for Barry Trotz’s club, which is coming off a brutal shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The Islanders have to beat the reeling Kraken, who have lost four games in a row.
Islanders Need Depth Pieces to Step Up
The New York Islanders’ problem all season has been finding the back of the net. The goaltending duo of Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov has been solid between the pipes and New York has allowed almost the fewest shots on goal per game in the NHL. The Islanders just can’t score, ranking 29th in goals scored per game.
New York only has four players with 20 or more points and four players with double-digit goals. At this point in the season, that’s just not sustainable and it shows just how little production the Islanders have received from players not on its top two lines. Veteran wingers like Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, and Zach Parise aren’t doing enough on offense to help the Islanders.
Those issues came to a head in the loss to Montreal, in which the Islanders were heavily favored but needed a late-third period goal just to force overtime against a team that has just 11 wins. New York ended up losing in a shootout and missed out on a critical point. The Kraken are another bad team that the Islanders need to get two points against.
Home Woes Have Plagued Kraken
It usually takes time for expansion teams to figure things out as a new franchise and the Seattle Kraken have been no different. The Kraken have had a rough first season and it hasn’t been any easier at home, where Seattle is 9-16-2 and has lost three straight. So, while the Kraken are happy to be back home after an 0-3-0 road trip in which they scored just six goals, it’s not like they have any special home-ice advantages.
Also, it doesn’t help that Seattle lost at Vancouver on Monday night, had to go through customs and is now back in action less than 24 hours later. The rest disadvantage is unwelcome for the Kraken, who will have starting goalie Phillip Grubauer in net after Chris Driedger lost to the Canucks with Seattle as sizable road underdogs.
Maybe having Grubauer back and his improved play from a dreadful start to the season could kick-start the Kraken to put some goals on the board.
Islanders vs Kraken Head-to-Head
These teams first met a few weeks ago, with Seattle notching the first shutout in franchise history in a 3-0 win at UBS Arena on Long Island. Grubauer only needed to stop 19 shots to blank the Islanders.
The Kraken won straight-up as +220 underdogs and Grubauer’s play ensured that the under (five goals) easily cashed.
Islanders vs Kraken Game Information
- Game: New York Islanders (18-20-7) at Seattle Kraken (16-32-4)
- Location: Climate Pledge Arena
- Day/Time: Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET
- Television: ESPN+
New York Islanders vs Seattle Kraken Betting Lines
Islanders vs Kraken Prediction
The Islanders, despite their struggles, are slightly favored on the road in this one by the NHL betting lines on the BetUS sportsbook. Since Seattle isn’t going to be favored in many games, this is a pretty fairline. Sorokin has started six games in a row for the Islanders but he’ll probably get the nod again since this is such a huge game for New York to have.
New York is also rested, which certainly helps. Seattle is just 2-6-0 in the second half of back-to-backs this season and the Kraken have allowed five or more goals in three of their last four games.
If you’re betting online, consider taking the Islanders on the moneyline at any price down to -160. While that’s not great value on its own, you could parlay it with the over. Neither of these teams are offensive juggernauts but with the Kraken on a back-to-back and Grubauer in net against a hungry Islanders team, the over is an interesting play.
