Penguins Eye Islanders and East’s Second Seed
New York Travels to Pittsburgh in Monday NHL Action
The Penguins have won three consecutive contests, and are only two points behind the second-place Islanders in the East. Pittsburgh has been playing shorthanded lately, but is still surging up the standings like a predator stalking prey. Even without future HOFer Evgeni Malkin in the lineup, the Penguins pummeled the Islanders 6-3 on Saturday.
The Pens’ third-leading scorer, Bryan Rust, notched a hat trick vs the rival Islanders in the March 27 matchup. Rust’s first goal put Pittsburgh ahead 4-0 in the second period, chasing N.Y. goalie Ilya Sorokin from the game. Then Rust scored a backhander on relief goaltender Semyon Varlamov, before finally slipping in an empty-netter with 41 seconds left.
The Islanders have won three of their last four, but have struggled against the Penguins all season. The current NHL odds on BetUS rate this Pittsburgh vs. N.Y. matchup as a virtual pick’em on March 29. These types of tense collisions between rivals are what riveting online sports betting experiences are born from.
N.Y. Islanders (22-9-4) at Pittsburgh Penguins (22-11-2)
Friday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. EST
PPG Paints Arena- Pittsburgh, PA
NHL Betting Vitals
Puck Line: Islanders +1½ (-270), Penguins -1½ (+230)
Money Line: Islanders -110, Penguins -110
Goal Totals: 5½
Islanders at Penguins: Betting Forecast
The Islanders have a losing road record this season, while the Penguins have proven to be quite lethal at home. Pittsburgh is 15-3-1 at PPG Paints Arena in 2021, and owns a top-10 offense and defense. Pens’ goalie Tristan Jarry has won six of his last eight starts, while Semyon Varlamov has lost two-out-of-three. Let’s go Pittsburgh!!!
Final Score Prediction: Penguins 5, Islanders 3
NHL Free Pick ATS: Pittsburgh Penguins -1½ (+230)
NHL Free Pick $$$: Pittsburgh Penguins -110
