There really is nothing better than a rivalry game in professional sports, and this is particularly true in hockey, where tensions and hatred can very quickly turn an otherwise meaningless game into a must watch one. There are different ways in which rivalries develop, with some coming over time, usually in games involving the Original Six, while others are developed by playing in the same division.
The Islanders and Rangers have a number of factors in play, not the least of which is trying to be the superior team in the great city of New York. The Islanders glory days are long in the past, while the Rangers are on a downward slide after being one of the better teams in the league in recent years. The Islanders are still looking at a playoff spot, while their rivals have some real work to do if they are to be a part of the postseason equation. It is the Islanders who are in as the road NHL odds favorites for this one, with the total goals number set at 6.
Islanders vs Rangers NHL Betting Lines & Game Preview
Trotz: Robin Lehner in goal tonight. #Isles pic.twitter.com/2O1oUaXF8w
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) 10 de enero de 2019
- When: Thursday, January 10 at 7 PM EST
- Where: Madison Square Garden, NYC
- TV: NHL Network
- Radio: TuneIn
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- NHL Betting Lines: New York Islanders -1.5 (Total 6)
Why bet on the New York Islanders?
The Islanders are very much in the hunt for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, sitting just below the playoff line, 1 point off the pace. They have reached that point by putting together a fantastic stretch of recent form that has seen them go 8-2-0 in their last 10 games.
This is a team that has thrived on the road, going 13-8-1 to this point in the season, plus they have had the number of their rivals for quite some time now. It was the Rangers who won the last meeting earlier this season, but prior to that, the Islanders had beaten their city rivals in 8 straight games. The last 4 meetings have all gone the way of the home team, but that is a trend that could very well be in jeopardy on Thursday night, as the Islanders are red-hot right now.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.02
- Shots: 28.49
- PP/PK Percentage: 15.70
- Goals: 2.71
- Shots: 31.00
- PP/PK Percentage: 23.33
Why bet on the New York Rangers?
2019 has been a bit of a disaster for the Rangers, as they have lost every game they have played in the New Year. That 4-game losing skid has the Rangers sitting at just 3-5-2 in their last 10 games, which is simply not good enough for a team that is seeing the playoff line begin to fade on the horizon.
If there is a positive to be found in the Rangers season thus far, it is that they have not been all that bad at home, going 11-5-5 on the season. Then again, they have not been able to make any sort of headway in their division, going just 2-5-3 versus other teams from the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers blanked the Islanders 5-0 in their last meeting, but I have a tough time seeing them repeating that.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.76
- Shots: 28.12
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.49
- Goals: 3.45
- Shots: 33.86
- PP/PK Percentage: 24.29
Islanders vs Rangers NHL Betting Trends
- NY Islanders is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
- NY Islanders is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 14 of NY Islanders’s last 20 games
- NY Rangers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- NY Rangers is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 11 of NY Rangers’ last 16 games
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Islanders vs Rangers
This match-up has delivered goals in the two games that they have played this season, with a combined 17 goals coming in those 2 games. The OVER looks like a good bet in this one, and I believe that the Islanders will pick up the win here.
Score: New York Islanders 5 – New York Rangers 2
