Islanders vs Blue Jackets NHL Spread Preview

There is something to be said for being involved in a heated playoff race in the final couple of weeks of the season. The level of pressure that teams are forced to play under in those final games is as close to the pressure of the playoffs as it gets. It’s not uncommon for a team to get on a roll in those final few weeks, and then make a decent run in the postseason. That will be exactly what the New York Islanders are hoping will happen, as they have been dragged into a Wild Card race that has become a little too close for comfort. The good news for the Islanders is that they are starting to win again, and while they are not really opening up on the chasing pack, they are still edging ever closer to a playoff position. They will have a chance to continue their good run of for when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. You can wager on this one by visiting the MyBookie.ag Hockey betting page.

How To Bet the Columbus Vs NY Islanders NHL Odds, TV & Game Info

When: Thursday, March 31 at 7 PM EST Where: Barclays Center, New York TV: FSOH and MSG+ NHL Odds: TBA

Why bet on the Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets (30-38-8) are ending the season the way they started it, which is on a major losing skid. They have lost 3 in a row coming into this one, and are also just 3-7-0 in their last 10 games. Furthermore, they are now just a single point ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the worst record in the NHL, which may actually be a blessing in disguise if they actually land there. No-one sets out to land the top draft pick, but if the opportunity arises, it’s one that you take. This makes you wonder just how committed the Jackets are to winning right now, as losing will land them a potentially bigger prize. Columbus are averaging 2.5 GPG, and are giving up 3.1 GPG.

Why bet on the New York Islanders

There has to be a little bit of nervousness in the New York Islanders (41-25-9) camp right now, as they have been dragged into a playoff race that they really shouldn’t be in. They were in a pretty comfortable spot a couple of weeks back, but are now just 4 points up on the teams sitting outside the Wild Card spot. The good news is that they have pulled out a pair of important back to back wins, beating the Carolina Hurricanes both times. The wins have not really been of the convincing variety, but they all count at this stage of the game. They have a tough stretch of games coming up to finish the season, so this is almost a must win. New York are averaging 2.7 GPG, and are giving up 2.5 GPG.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

A win here could put the Islanders in a much better spot than they are right now, and the Jackets are the perfect team to face when you need a win. The Islanders have already won 4 times against Columbus this season, and this should be the regular season sweep. Columbus Blue Jackets 2 New York Islanders 4