Islanders Return Home After West Coast Swing
The New York Islanders are back home after a three-game West Coast road trip. They’ve won two in a row and are set to host the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have also won two straight.
If you check the NHL news and standings, the Islanders are just two points inside the playoff cut right now, sitting as the No. 7 seed. Can they pick up a key win on Tuesday to maintain their playoff push?
Maple Leafs Missing O’Reilly
One of Toronto’s biggest acquisitions at the deadline was picking up Ryan O’Reilly from the St. Louis Blues. He has five points in his first eight games with the team but suffered a finger injury that will hold him out at least a few weeks.
This absence could make them worse, especially when you consider that stellar goaltender Ilya Samsonov has popped up on the injury report lately.
It’s yet to be known if Samsonov will stay on the bench for his second straight game, but if you’re betting this game in the sportsbook, note that he was seen on the ice in practice on Monday.
Samsonov is 24-8-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage on top of it. He’s been excellent for the Maple Leafs.
Matt Murray has an .878 save percentage for the Maple Leafs this month. If he’s in net, you have to drop the Leafs down a notch and possibly consider the over for NHL betting purposes.
Islanders Bolstered By Stellar Defense
The New York Islanders haven’t had the best offense by any stretch of the imagination. It’s been even more difficult to score goals with Mathew Barzal remaining out with an injury.
This has caused the Islanders to rely even heavier on their defensive abilities and goaltending. Ilya Sorokin has been phenomenal back there in the crease. He’s 25-19-6 with a 2.37 GAA and a .925 save percentage.
Those who bet online should note that Sorokin is tied for the ninth-best record, the sixth-best GAA and the third-best save percentage.
The key to this team’s success is their offense, though. They’ve won eight in a row when scoring three or more. They’ve lost four in a row when scoring two or less.
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Game Injuries
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Head-to-Head
These teams have met twice this season, with the Islanders winning the first game and Toronto winning the second.
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Game Information
- Game: Maple Leafs (42-18-9) vs Islanders (36-27-8)
- Location: UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
- Day/Time: Tuesday, March 21, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Maple Leafs vs Islanders Live Stream: NHL.TV
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Betting Lines
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Picks and Prediction
The biggest difference between these teams is offensive production right now. The Maple Leafs are scoring an average of 3.42 goals per game thanks to their stellar offensive trio of skaters, even with O’Reilly missing.
The Islanders, on the other hand, are scoring just 2.93 goals per game, much further down the rankings.
If Murray is in net for the Leafs, the Isles are the better option for your NHL picks as well as the over. If it’s Samsonov in net, the Leafs are the lean for sports bets. They’re the better of the two teams right now.
Toronto is listed at -120 in our Vegas lines. So, if you wager $100 on the Maple Leafs, there’s a chance to win $83. New York is +100 with a chance to win $100 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Islanders a 50.00% chance to win, with the Maple Leafs at 54.55%.
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Trends
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Edge
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Results
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Game Summary
